11.11.2018 Ankara
Speaking at the Joint Meeting of the Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Ankara, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that all the chambers and exchanges in Ankara are working with all the powers to prepare the future for Ankara, “Working together, we will carry Ankara further forward.”
Joint
Meeting of the Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Ankara was hosted by Ankara
Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board of Directors Gürsel Baran at the VIP
Hall of ATO Congresium. Ankara Governor Vasip Şahin and TOBB President M. Rifat
Hisarcıklıoğlu attended the meeting as well as the chairpersons and executives
of the chambers and exchanges of Ankara provinces and districts.
During
the part of the meeting held open to the press, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they
came together to talk about Ankara and attain common ideas. Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that the economy of Ankara has changed and developed under the
leadership of the chambers and exchanges, “We were once known as the civil
servant city. Today, Ankara has become the center of high technology,
education, trade and industry, especially the defense and IT sectors. In the
leadership of our Chamber of Industry, Ankara OIZs have developed rapidly. They
added value to Ankara with valuable production and exports. Our Commodity
Exchanges supports the producer. They facilitate trade. They pioneered the
development of licensed warehousing and gave a new vision to our agricultural
sector. Our Chambers of Commerce have focused on Ankara's two major problems
that have not been solved for years. Especially, with the great effort of my
brother, Gürsel Baran, direct flights from Ankara to abroad increased rapidly.
The fairground issue, which we had longed for years, was finally resolved. Allah
willing, this fair area will add to the brand value and commercial life of
Ankara.”
- Competition of cities
Stating
that in the 21st century cities will attain an unprecedented growth
to dominate national economies, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu reminded that the
only 2 cities with over 10 million in population in 1950 were New York and
Tokyo. Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that there are projected to be 37 megacities with over
10 million population in the world by the year 2025.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that the competition between the countries would turn into an inter-city
competition, “Look, it's very interesting, I recently saw it on a foreign post.
A foreign city that wants to stand out in the competition is building the
fastest internet infrastructure in the world. Thus, the city attracts high-tech
companies, the city is rapidly becoming rich. We must increase the attractiveness
of our cities. For this reason, the city needs to be a brand; environmental
awareness should be increased and it must be a smart city. But that's not
enough. All local actors should focus on the same goal. How to improve the
private sector in the province, how to increase trade and investment. Let me
give a striking example: Mall of America. Founded in America, Minnesota City.
But before that, the cities competed to attract this investment. The
municipalities have personally visited the Governor. They marketed their own
cities. That's what this shows. Our goal is to become one of the mega-cities of
the new era. To compete with the world, not just nationally. Here the first
task falls to us. All our Chambers and Commodity Exchanges in Ankara must work
with all their powers to prepare Ankara for the future.”
Stating
that regional development agencies are not right to finance social projects of
the public administration, the TOBB President added that agencies should give
priority to projects that will increase the trade and production of the
province and develop its economy.
- Governor of Ankara Vasip Şahin
In
his speech, Governor of Ankara Vasip Şahin said, “As business people, you have
taken the duty of increasing employment, increasing exports and increasing the
level of welfare. As the representative of the state, the task we have is to
remove the obstacles before you.” In his speech at the Ankara Chambers and
Commodity Exchanges Meeting held in ATO Congresium, Şahin said that business
people play a very important role in the development of cities.
- “SCT and VAT reductions will
balance the economy”
Ankara
Chamber of Commerce (ATO) Chairman of the Board of Directors Gürsel Baran
stated that they built their work as a chamber on the members of the Ankara
economy and the economy of the country and stated that they are doing their
utmost to improve Ankara in all areas.
Ankara
Chamber of Industry (ASO) President Nurettin Özdebir, Ankara Commodity Exchange
(ATB) President Faik Yavuz as well as the board members of Çubuk Commodity
Exchange, Haymana Commodity Exchange, Polatli Commodity Exchange and Chamber,
Beypazari Chamber of Commerce, Haymana Chamber of Commerce, Şereflikoçhisar
Chamber of Commerce also attended also attended the meeting.