02.10.2020 Ankara
The Union of Chambers and Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and Industry and Technology Minister Varank met with the Presidents of 365 Chambers and Exchanges of TOBB online and consulted on incentives and issues on the agenda.
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said at the meeting that a very
important breakthrough in the investment incentive system has been implemented
in the last period, “As you know, for years, we have been saying that the
incentive system on every platform should be county-based, to no result. Mustafa
Varank, our Minister, has undertaken a monumental step in this area and started
county-based incentives for the first time.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu, at the opening of the meeting organized via
videoconference, stated that the great importance Varank puts on the industry
and his vision for the national technology move to elevate Turkey to a higher
league gives them greater motivation to work and to look to the future in this
critical period.
Noting that they are working closely with Minister Varank on Turkey's
prestige project Turkey's Automobile Enterprise Group which aims to roll out
the first car from the production line in 2022, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they
faced many difficulties, but Varank's support has been very important and
valuable in the project reaching its launching point.
- County-based incentive system
Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that with Minister Varank, the Small and
Medium Enterprises Development and Support Administration have also increased
their service capacity, thus allowing many efforts to be implemented together.
Also recently, a very important breakthrough in the investment
incentive system has been implemented, Hisarcıklıoğlu said:
“As you know, for years, we have been saying that the incentive system
on every platform should be county-based, to no result. Mustafa Varank, our
Minister, has undertaken a monumental step in this area and started
county-based incentives for the first time. Of course, as with any new system,
there may be areas where revision is needed, but the important thing was to
show willing and take this step. Today we will consult with our Minister and
his team on all these issues concerning our industry. I would also like to
thank our Minister of Industry and Technology for his executive vision and
innovation-focused approach, for his real sector-friendly working style and for
showing that they stand by the real sector during these difficult days.”
- Minister of Industry and
Technology Mustafa Varank
Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank said that by the end
of the year, the Technology Oriented Industrial Move program will issue calls
for mobility, chemistry and medical devices.
Minister Varank, attending the TOBB Consultation and Evaluation Meeting
from Informatics Valley via videoconference, pointed out the importance of
growth led by the private sector, noting that they are in consultation with the
business world during the Covid-19 fight.
Varank pointed out that they have implemented a county-based incentive
system in investment incentives, and gave the following information about
regulation:
“We were getting intense demands from the field in this direction. We
have updated the socio-economic development indices of all our provinces and
districts. We took into account 52 indicators for cities and 32 indicators for
counties. Our 263 less developed counties have been awarded more support than
they have in the past. With the new system, investments in underdeveloped
districts of cities will benefit from support for a sub-region. If these
investments are made in the OIZs of that district, they will benefit directly
from the 2 sub-region incentives. Thus, more investment will be encouraged to
go to relatively disadvantaged districts, employment will increase and economic
life will be revived.”
After the speeches, chamber presidents conveyed their questions to
Minister Varank.