16.01.2019 Ankara
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they, along with the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry, will provide training for chamber and exchange personnel thanks to the, “Applied Project Writing Education,” for the development of European Union Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance in Rural Development (IPARD) projects, “We care greatly about the widespread utilization of the IPARD Program by our members.”
Minister
of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli and TOBB President M. Rifat
Hisarcıklıoğlu signed the “IPARD Project Preparation Cooperation and Training
Protocol,” at the TOBB Twin Towers.
Hisarcıklıoğlu,
in his speech at the ceremony, drew attention to Turkey's potential in
agriculture, noting that production volume of the sector has reached 50 billion
USD.
Stating
that agriculture is a net foreign currency earning sector for Turkey,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “In 2018, against about 10 billion USD in imports, we exported
17 billion USD of goods from this sector but we have a long way to go. World
agricultural products imports total 1.7 trillion dollars. Here, our share is
only 1% of that. Therefore, we should prepare our agriculture sector for global
competition just like the industrial sector.”
Emphasizing
the need for the development of new policies in agriculture, Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that the importance of IPARD supports becomes apparent at this point.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
said, “We are benefiting from these supports in our agriculture and animal husbandry
sectors. We provide 75% of IPARD support from EU funds. Since 2011, 14,500
projects have been supported by IPARD support in 42 provinces. 3.8 billion TRY
has been provided in grants while 10 billion TRY has been invested and 60,000 people
were employed. As a result of the positive negotiations of the EU Commission
and our Ministry, I believe that similar figures will be achieved in the
upcoming period.”
Stating
that when he took office in 2001, he recalled that there were no chambers and commodity
exchanges capable of preparing projects, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that today's chambers
and exchanges have become project factories and that these members will reach the
point where their members can now create their own projects as well.
- “We're doing our part”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that thanks to the “Applied Project Writing Training,” which will be
coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, will train chamber and
exchange personnel in IPARD project preparation:
“As
TOBB, we are doing our part to ensure that our members are benefiting from
IPARD support through our 77 commodity exchanges and chambers of commerce where
commodity exchanges are unavailable. We care greatly about the widespread
utilization of the IPARD Program by our members.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
reported that they will cover this issue within the scope of professional
competence via the TOBB Vocational Qualification and Certification Center
(YET-MER), increasing the efficiency in agriculture and animal husbandry.
- The Minister of Agriculture and
Forestry Pakdemirli
Minister
of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli stated that investors can prepare
their projects free of charge in the 42 provinces in which the European Union
(EU) Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance-Rural Development Program (IPARD) is
implemented through TOBB's chambers and exchanges free of charge.
Pakdemirli
explained that IPARD, the EU's rural development grants, constitutes an
important and effective pillar of the EU process and said that they are
cooperating with TOBB for the more effective use of IPARD grants granted by the
Agriculture and Rural Development Support Agency (TKDK).
Pakdemirli
emphasized that the protocol, which will provide an important convenience and
alternative to investors, means that projects under IPARD can now be prepared
free of charge. “Thanks to this protocol, investors will be able to prepare
their projects free of charge through the chambers and exchanges within the
TOBB, in 42 provinces where IPARD is implemented.”
- “Training of chambers and
exchanges”
Pakdemirli
pointed out investors would pay their consultancy support from the TKDK to the chamber
and commodity exchanges that prepare the project if and when the project is accepted,
and they would not need to pay if the project does not qualify as a part of the
TKDK evaluation process.
“TKDK
continues to support investments in 16 different sub-sectors. Although it
varies according to the sector, it provides between 40% and 70% grants. Under
the IPARD program, we have provided a total of 14,500 projects with 3.8 billion
TRY in the last 7 years. 10 billion TRY was invested into rural regions and
60,000 new jobs were created.”
Pakdemirli
reminded that there is tax exemption in IPARD investments and they contribute
to the development of many sectors with the effect of these grants, machinery
and equipment are supplied from local, construction works are provided from
local suppliers.
Pakdemirli
also pointed out that they have been engaging in affirmative action in regards
to women and youth as a part of IPARD and said, “We give additional points to
our women in their projects and give priority in ranking. As well as national
resources, we continue to support rural development, and we will continue to
support the development of rural development in 39 provinces with the support
of the nationally funded Rural Development Investments Program as well as in 39
provinces not covered by IPARD. We will continue to contribute to the growth of
our country.”
Following
the speeches, the protocol signed by Minister Pakdemirli and TOBB President
Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu will provide the investors with the opportunity to prepare
a free project for IPARD incentives provided by TKDK.