24.08.2022 Hatay
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) President M.Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu participated in the Cooperation Signature Protocol with Antakya Commodity Exchange and Medicinal Aromatic Plants Cooperative.
Hisarcıklıoğlu, who
gave a speech at the signing ceremony hosted by Antakya Commodity Exchange
President Ali Celal Mursaloğlu and attended by Antakya Medicinal Aromatic
Plants Cooperative President Semih Habib, drew attention to the fact that Hatay
is an important agricultural city. Emphasizing that a wide variety of crops
such as citrus fruits, olives, peanuts, wheat and cotton grow in fertile lands
such as the Amik Plain, the TOBB President said, “Türkiye, thanks to its
geographical location, climate and plant diversity, agricultural potential,
large surface area, it is one of the leading countries in the production and
trade of medicinal and aromatic plants. About 3,300 of the approximately 10,000
plant species in our country are endemic. In Hatay, about 300 of the more than
2,000 identified plant species consist of endemic plants. Many of the plant
species identified in the Hatay region have been found to be medicinal and
aromatic plants. Hatay is one of the leading cities of our country in terms of
medicinal and aromatic plants. You are aware of this work.”
- The importance of
medicinal and aromatic plants
Reminding that Hatay
also hosts Türkiye's first Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Museum, Hisarcıklıoğlu
said that medicinal and aromatic plants have been used for therapeutic purposes
and as food since the existence of humanity. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “It has been
demonstrated by long-term experience that various parts of plants such as
roots, leaves, flowers and fruits have therapeutic value. Throughout human
history, medicinal and aromatic plants have been used and continue to be used
in the treatment of many diseases.
Our Antakya Commodity
Exchange is also doing its part to increase the production and trade of
medicinal and aromatic plants. With the protocol we will witness today, more
medicinal and aromatic plants will be produced, processed and sold in Hatay.
Cultivation areas and employment will increase. The medicinal and aromatic
plants that you will produce will heal more people. That's why it's so good for
you to do. I congratulate you on this vision. Our Antakya Commodity Exchange is
always at the service of Hatay's agriculture and livestock sector. Antakya CE
is an accredited commodity exchange. It offers 5-star service to our members.
Antakya Commodity Exchange’s President is my colleague in Ankara. My brother
Celal and I are working together in the council of Commodity Exchanges. We
benefit from his knowledge and experience. He represents you in the best way in
Ankara.”
Stating that the
importance of being a self-sufficient country was once again seen in the
pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia war, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Although our input
costs have increased, never give up or neglect agriculture and animal
husbandry.”