24.03.2018 Şanlıurfa
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, participating in Şanlıurfa Geographical Sign Registry Ceremony, said that the success of Şanlıurfa's geographical markers has been recognized and the whole city should be proud of it. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Geographical markers means first branding, then more valuable products, meaning more profit. Let's protect our wealth.”
Attending the Şanlıurfa Geographical Sign Registry Ceremony hosted by the
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) Chair İsmail Demirkol were TOBB
President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Şanlıurfa Parliamentarian and Former Minister
Faruk Çelik, Former Minister Kutbettin Arzu, Governor of Şanlıurfa Abdullah
Erin, Chairman of Turkey Patent Institute Prof. Dr. Habip Asan and many guests.
Speaking in the ceremony, TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu indicated that
Şanlıurfa is ranked first in geographical markers in Turkey and said, “Şanlıurfa
Chamber of Commerce has contributed a large share of effort to this success.
Our Chamber had already registered 4 products, today 13 products have also been
registered. The applications made for other seven products are under
investigations. Among 365 Chambers and Commodity Exchanges, Şanlıurfa Chamber
of Commerce is the champion. It has registered two times more products than the
one ranked 2nd. Thanks to the Chairman of the Chamber, the master of
community, Honorable İsmail Demirkol. Under his leadership, our Chamber is achieving
great things. I am proud of him; I am proud to have such a president.”
Pointing out that Şanlıurfa's great fortune is to have a Commodity
Exchange paving the way for manufacturers and providing a great deal of
support, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Mr. Mehmet Kaya has achieved much for Urfa.
First, he built a modern service building that befits Urfa; prepared sample
projects on licensed warehouses in Turkey. He built Grain Licensed Warehouse
and Cotton Licensed Warehouse, enabling manufacturers of Urfa to earn more. We
also benefit from Mehmet Kaya's knowledge and experience in Ankara. This is how
our chambers – commodity exchanges work for their cities, for your wealth and
how they invest. I would like to thank Şanlıurfa, and you, that brought such
hardworking and successful Presidents of the Chamber of Commodity Exchange to
our community and country.”
- What will the geographical markers provide?
Stating about what geographical markers would provide, TOBB President M.
Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu noted that the geographical markers mean branding first,
and then better products, culminating in increased profits. Pointing out that
when the geographical marker for a product is registered in Europe, the price increases
by 20 to 50%, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “But it is not just about making money. It
is also our duty to preserve the miracle left to us by our ancestors. We have
to hand down these treasures to our grandchildren with the same quality. All of
these products are ours as long as we protect them. They will disappear if we
do not.”
- We must preserve our wealth
TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that there is a unique cheese
in each district of Turkey; but when we say “cheese,” France comes to mind or
when we say “tulip,” the Netherlands comes to mind.
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The homeland of the tulip is Turkey, but the
Netherlands adopted tulips. Now they earn 1bn EUR per year from them. Greece is
attempting to brand our baklava, our coffee and yoghurt as theirs. Yet our
greatest wealth is our cultural wealth. If we have them, they mean money and
wealth. So we need to get geographical markers to lay claim to our local
products.
Then it comes to registering them in Europe. Currently only 3 products;
Malatya’s apricot, Aydın’s fig and Antep’s Baklava are registered with the European
Union. It is again our Chambers – Commodity Exchanges in these provinces which had
them registered. I hope this number will increase soon. We have given and we
will give all our support via the TOBB Brussels office. Now, it is time to
register the products of Urfa in Europe. In all these beautiful developments in
the area of geographical markers, our Chambers - our Commodity Exchanges have
expended great effort. As TOBB, we take on the responsibility. Our Chambers –
Commodity Exchanges did their share. Thanks to them, geographical marker registration
has gained speed. Our government leads and supports us. I hope that
geographical markers will be beneficial to Urfa and you. May Allah grace those
who contributed.”