05.11.2021 Girne / TRNC
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu attended the opening of the Leadership Academy organized by Silifke Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Girne.
Speaking at the opening
of the event, TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu thanked the Silifke Chamber
of Commerce and Industry, which organized the event.
Emphasizing that the
TRNC economy must be able to stand on its own two feet, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “I
think the existence of a strong private sector is very important for this. We
have been working with the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce for a long time
to develop the private sector. We have prepared a detailed report on the
development of bilateral trade and investment opportunities. In addition, the
Turkey-TRNC Chamber of Commerce Forum, which we established together, focused
on the development of bilateral trade and investment relations. We have also
been working together on improving the investment environment since 2011.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu said
that they support the TRNC's efforts to integrate with the world, and for this
purpose, as the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, they keep
the unfair embargoes imposed in every international environment they are
involved in on the agenda.
Stating that Silifke
CCı is one of the most established chambers in Turkey with a history of 113
years, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “It has an international accredited certificate and
thus has been registered as serving at world standards. With this leadership
academy, our chamber has realized a first in Turkey and has demonstrated its
vision. Here, experts and academicians have come together in many subjects from
entrepreneurship, trade and development to personal development.”
Emphasizing that both
the pandemic and the increasing economic difficulties are forcing everyone,
TOBB President said, “The right leadership is needed most on such days. Our
Chambers and Exchanges take on the main representation of the private sector in
Turkey. Our Chamber and Commodity Exchange Presidents are seen as opinion
leaders of their provinces and districts. His word is listened to, respected
and followed. Our Chamber and Commodity Exchange Presidents, Councillors, are
all elected to their positions, going through not one, but a number of
elections. They take on this task to protect their rights and law by asking
their opponents in the market for votes. Therefore, people pass on every
problem to them, asking them for help. Therefore, it is necessary to manage
this process in the best way and to lead these people correctly. This right job
that our Silifke CCI does at the right time supports you in many areas where it
is needed.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that thanks to the strong Chamber and Stock Exchange system, they closely
followed the problems of their members during the pandemic, and that they
communicate all the problems in the field with their suggestions to the
relevant ministers and seek solutions, and they have received positive results
in most of them.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that two other major transformations have emerged that they need to lead the
private sector. In terms of bringing our companies to digital environment, both
TOBB and Chambers-Exchanges have started to produce and implement projects. The
Smart SME Platform, which we have opened within TOBB, aims to be the digital
transformation base of SMEs. In addition, our Women Entrepreneurs Council works
with the world's major technology companies and provides coding and e-commerce
trainings to thousands of women entrepreneurs. For the healthy growth of
e-commerce, we accredit e-commerce sites that meet the criteria we have set
with the trust seal. On the other hand, we are closely watching the Green
Transformation, another important issue on the agenda. Turkey ratified the
Paris climate agreement last month, declaring 2053 the year of net zero carbon
emissions. This was a necessary step because if we stay out of it, we may have
to pay an additional carbon tax on our exports to the EU. It is estimated that
from 2026 we will start paying €700 million in annual taxes. In iron and steel,
aluminum, cement, energy and fertilizer, the tax per ton is assumed to be 50
euros. If we extend this to all sectors, the tax we have to pay to the EU could
rise to about €2 billion. We can see the effect of this as a negative
reflection on our competitiveness with the increase in the price of our
exported goods. Turkey is an integral part of the EU economy. More than half of
our exports go to developed markets. Given the composition of our export goods,
it seems unlikely that we will find another market. Because such purchasing
power and the broad market are not easy to find. In order for Turkish industry
to maintain its ability to make technological leaps, we need to continue to
take part in these markets. Therefore, Turkey needs to rethink the way it
integrates into the EU economy and take steps to adapt to it.”
Noting that there is a
new production and trade zone being reshaped on both sides of the Atlantic,
Hisarciklıoğlu said, “If we are not afraid to comprehend what is changing, the
Green Deal can be used for the transformation and development of our industry,
as in the Customs Union. If we take the right step, our opportunities will
expand. In short, like digital transformation, green reconciliation will change
many of our habits. A new world will be created and we will try to take our
place here. But not everyone will have the same ability and ability to transition
to new. So it will be necessary to think and design how to increase the ability
to adapt to this new world. The macro economy, labor markets and education
system will also need to be renewed. Of course, it is not easy, but it can be
done and it has to be done.”
Stating that the Green
Deal has a comprehensive structural reform agenda, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Turkey
needs a comprehensive and medium-term structural reform agenda. This structural
reform agenda will cover all areas of our lives, from macroeconomic stability
to tax reform, education reform to agricultural reform. We have never had such
a big structural reform agenda. Because in the previous years, structural
reform was aimed at returning to the previous balance. Now it's about
transitioning to the new world and changing our way of life dramatically. Here,
too, it falls to our Chambers and Exchanges to lead and guide our private
sector. We started to work with both the public administration and our think
tank TEPAV.”
Turkish Cypriot
President Ersin Tatar expressed his happiness and honor that the Leadership
Academy was held in the TRNC, and said, “We always consider ourselves an
unbreakable part of Turkey. We've had more contacts lately. This is very
important for the TRNC. We are being pushed into isolation within the European
Union. We must be smart. We respect the Greek side. We have the right to
sovereignty. They need to respect that. As TRNC, we have to increase our trade.
I say it all the time. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is a place of
detachment from heaven. Our main development point should be tourism.”
Nurettin Kaynar,
Silifke Chamber of Commerce and Industry President, gave information about the
Leadership Academy and said, “Within the scope of the event, cooperation
agreement was made with chambers and exchanges and academic knowledge and
business world were provided. We are proud to meet you with the Leadership
Academy and socio-cultural events. Our goal is to make our Silifke a brand
city. The traditional Leadership Academy is very important to us in this
regard. We will continue our work in this regard without interruption.”
In his speech, Silifke
Mayor Sadık Altınok thanked the participants and informed Silifke's history,
trade and economy.
- TRNC President Tatar receives TOBB delegation
After the meeting,
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Ersin Tatar received TOBB
President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and the accompanying delegation. The
reception saw an exchange of views on Turkey-TRNC economic and trade relations.