24.08.2022 Hatay
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu attended the Joint Award Ceremony held at the Assembly Cultural Center of the Antakya Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Antakya Commodity Exchange.
TOBB President M. Rifat
Hisarcıklıoğlu, speaking at the award ceremony hosted by Antakya CCI President
Hikmet Çinçin and Antakya Commodity Exchange President Ali Celal Mursaloğlu,
said that the joint award ceremony and cooperation is befitting Hatay, the city
of peace, brotherhood, tolerance and tranquility, which has hosted dozens of
great civilizations and where different cultures and beliefs live together.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that the unity in Antakya is an example for all of Türkiye, “There is another
point here that we should be proud of. Antakya CCI and TB are accredited. They
offer 5-star service to our member. My chamber-commodity exchange presidents in
Hatay are my colleagues in Ankara and TOBB. I work together with my brother
Hikmet in the TIR Committee and with my brother Celal in the council of
Commodity Exchanges. I benefit from their knowledge and experience. They
represent you in the best way in Ankara. At the same time, they are doing their
part and working for the development and enrichment of Antakya. Our Antakya
Commodity Exchange is taking action to increase the production and trade of
medicinal and aromatic plants. It enables more medicinal and aromatic plants to
be produced and sold in Hatay. Our Antakya Commodity Exchange protects the
local values of Hatay by registering its geomarkers. It protects Hatay's cheeses,
pumpkin dessert and kunefe, pepper and jam. From my Presidents to their
Administrations, from their Assemblies to their General Secretaries and
employees, may Allah be pleased with all of them.”
- We work for the
business world
Hisarcıklıoğlu noted
that during the pandemic, they worked with the Presidents of the Chambers and
Commodity Exchanges to provide many supports for the business world and said, “Of
course, there is more work to be done, because the troubles are not over. As
TOBB, we follow up with and relay these as well.
We convey the increase
in our input costs, the difficulties in accessing credit, high energy prices to
the relevant Ministers. In addition to the rise in the prices of inputs such as
fertilizer and feed in agriculture, drought is also turning into a very big
problem. Due to high inflation, the need for working capital of companies is
also increasing. We also convey to the government the need for new loans and
CGF surety loan packages to support them. For example, in loan rates and
limits, we were all experiencing great difficulties. First we met with our
Central Bank, then with our public banks, at TOBB and explained the situation
to them.
Later, new regulations
were introduced. Hopefully, we expect it to reflect positively on the loan
interest rate. In June, TOBB Türkiye Economic Council was attended by our Vice
President, Ministers of Finance, Industry, Trade and Energy. Together with my
Chamber-Commodity Exchange Presidents, we have explained your problems and
demands to the ministers. At this point, you should definitely pay attention to
this point.
We, as the voice of our
members, become their interpreters. The executive authority and responsibility
belongs to our government. Apart from these, we will also put on our agenda the
issues that you will convey through our Chamber and Commodity Exchange.
Together with my presidents, we will continue to follow these and work to
conclude them. At their request, we are starting another good job in Hatay. As
you know, as TOBB, we built a high school with 40 classrooms and a dormitory for
300 people here. Now, we will build another school in Dörtyol, Erzin, İskenderun,
Kırıkhan and Reyhanlı. May it be auspicious and beneficial for Hatay.”