08.07.2019 Sivas
Participating in the Value Contributors of Sivas Award Ceremony, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We can overcome all difficulties through unity and solidarity so long as we do not marginalize each other.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
participated in the Value Contributors of Sivas Award Ceremony organized
jointly by the Sivas Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Sivas Commodity
Exchange. The TOBB President, giving a message of unity and solidarity, said, “I
hope the future of Sivas will be as bright as its past. The attraction of Sivas
is increasing. Sivas can do much better.” Stating that there are expectations
from the government for the projects, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We are expecting
the completion of the road connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean via
Ordu-Sivas. In this way, Sivas will be connected to the sea, reaching the port.
It will be easier for Sivas to export. Ankara-Sivas high-speed train line
should soon be completed.
Thus,
Ankara-Sivas will be reduced to 2 hours and Istanbul-Sivas to 5 hours. Sivas
should become the center that connects the east and the west. In addition, both
the President and the Minister of Industry mentioned special incentives to make
Sivas an industrial center. We are closely monitoring this issue.”
- What have we done for the chambers
and exchanges?
Hisarcıklıoğlu,
the President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB),
speaking on what has been achieved in the last year, said: “Your biggest
complaint was access to finance. The banks which chase us on a good day and
disappear on a rainy day. We have launched low-interest SME support packages.
TOBB-Chambers and Commodity Exchanges have taken on their share of the burden.
We mobilized all our resources. In 2 years, we provided 12 billion TRY to
96,000 SMEs. Then we went to the government and requested additional support.
Thanks to them, they offered credit facilities to our SMEs with 4 different
credit packages. Our second step in financing was Commercial Receivables
Insurance. State-funded commercial receivables insurance was launched this
year. Another problem was high employment costs. First, we have provided the
Minimum Wage Support to employers. It ended last year but has since been
restarted with the amount increased. In 2019, 150 TL will be provided for 12
months. Then, we started employment mobilization with our Chamber and Commodity
Exchange. Together with our government, we have provided historical support. There
has been a great amount of progress in regards to, Wage Support, SSI and
Concise Support, Short Work Allowance Support for new employment, Tax relief
request for the support of the domestic market, Furniture-White
Goods-Automobile and Housing tax relief, and mediation.
Are
there no troubles at all? Of course, but through unity and solidarity, we can overcome
all these troubles. As long as we don't marginalize each other. All we want
from the government is equal conditions with our global competitors. We'll take
care of the rest.”
- 100th anniversary
celebrations in Sivas
Hisarcıklıoğlu
said that he is honored to be in Sivas, the place where the seeds of unity and
solidarity were sown a century ago, “I see it as a city of hope and national
will. Without Sivas, there would be no Turkey, no Turkish nation. The 82
million and future generations should know this.”
Stating
that a very important decision was taken in Sivas Congress, which should be remembered
by all, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We were told that the homeland is a whole,
indivisible. Here; This spirit of national unity and solidarity rising from
Sivas is our greatest strength in the face of the threats directed against our
nation, flag, ancestors and state. Everyone who wants to disrupt the unity and
integrity of this country should know that as long as the spirit and the people
of Sivas persists, no one can divide Turkey.”