28.04.2020 Ankara
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), the Ministry of Commerce and Facebook have established digital cooperation for SMEs. The online training portal for SMEs was opened through Facebook Station's website. The portal includes advice, digital trainings, programs and resources to make it easier for Turkish companies who are experiencing difficulties due to the Covid-19 outbreak to get through this process more easily.
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu
said that from the first day of the outbreak, they have focused on identifying
entrepreneurs’ demands and problems and producing solutions; stressing that the
process is dynamic, and that demand and problems should be forwarded to TOBB
through chambers and exchanges.
Hisarcıklıoğlu said that there is no place
for pessimism in this process, and said:
“Never feel alone. We're here. We're in
charge of our mission for you. Communication is very important. We have to move
fast. Communicate your problems to us. Tell us about the troubles so that we
can communicate it to our government, and we will seek solutions. The
entrepreneur never gives up, never stops, never falls. I believe this problem
will pass. I trust you.”
The portal also introduces services
offered by TOBB and Facebook to SMEs in Turkey, which includes online training
for SMEs such as “Stand Out with Facebook,” “SMEs Without Borders,” and “She
Means Business,” programs to help women entrepreneurs grow their businesses.
In addition to the support provided by the
Ministry to companies, videos promoting services of the Ministry of Commerce
are also shared on the portal through the accounts of experts. In the portal,
which will include programs for SMEs in the first phase, the second phase will provide
training for tradesmen.
- Minister of Commerce Ruhsar Pekcan
Commenting on the cooperation, Trade
Minister Ruhsar Pekcan pointed out that the Covid-19 outbreak, which is a
global threat, has also caused a change in consumption and living habits,
adding that this change provides time to use social media and online platforms
more.
In order to ensure that citizens have the
fastest and easiest access to information about the Ministry's services, Pekcan
stated that they have carried out various educational activities such as “Export
Academy,” “Virtual Trade Academy,” from digital media, and said:
“In this context, we also cooperated with
Facebook. We strive to digitize all our business and operations related to our
Ministry and all our services. We strive to provide our services to our SMEs,
tradesmen, exporters, trade people and citizens with the benefits of
digitization. We wanted to remind you that we are with you in these difficult
times by calling out from this platform.”
- Facebook Turkey Public Policy Department Head Çağatay Pekyörür
Çağatay Pekyörür, head of Facebook
Turkey's Public Policy Department, said that with the effects of the Covid-19
outbreak are continuing around the world, adding that they have seen SMEs are
one of the most affected parties in this process.
“I believe that through our online
training programs and resources on our SME assistance page, which we have
implemented together with the Ministry of Commerce and TOBB, we will help our
SMEs in Turkey to minimize the unexpected challenges they face during this
difficult period.”