27.12.2022 Gaziantep
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu attended the Stars of Gaziantep Award Ceremony, which was also attended by Trade Minister Mehmet Muş. In addition to Hisarcıklıoğlu and Muş, Gaziantep Governor Davut Gül, Gaziantep Chamber of Industry Chairman Adnan Ünverdi, Gaziantep Chamber of Industry Council President Adil Sani Konukoğlu, Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin and many Chambers and Commodity Exchange Presidents were present at the ceremony.
TOBB President M. Rifat
Hisarcıklıoğlu congratulated the industrialists who were entitled to receive
awards with their achievements in his speech here. Stating that Gaziantep,
which was the banner bearer of the national War of Independence, has become the
star of not only Türkiye but also the whole region with its entrepreneurs and
industrialists today, Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that the city is the role model
and inspiration source of this whole region.
Stating that Gaziantep
broke a historical record in exports and reached 10 billion dollars,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “10 years ago, among the largest 1,000 industrial
enterprises, there were 35 companies from Gaziantep. Now that number has risen
to 67. It has become the 4th province with the most companies on the
list. It became a brand not only in industry, but also in agriculture. It took
place among the top 5 cities in agricultural exports. It has also taken the
offensive in tourism. It has become a world brand both in history and cultural
tourism and in gastronomic tourism. It entered the lists of UNESCO. Our
President Fatma Şahin has also made a great effort in this. On the other hand,
it has also made breakthroughs in technology. Gaziantep technopark has become
one of the fastest growing Technoparks. In short, Antep has turned into a real
brand city with its land, people and economy. Being together with you, the
architects of all these achievements, gives me a special honor and happiness.I say that everyone should know the value of
our companies that will receive the awards they deserve here. Because now the
source of the power of countries and even cities is their entrepreneurs. If
your entrepreneur is strong, your country will be strong and your city will be
strong. Therefore, I see you as the pupil of Antep and Türkiye, and the proud
examples of the Antep business world.”
- Gaziantep became a role model for the whole country
TOBB President
Hisarcıklıoğlu, who said that industrialism is present in Gaziantep's genes,
said, “Even in those difficult conditions of 101 years ago, the people of Antep
did not give up; they founded the İmalat-ı Harbiye Factory, invented out of
nothing, collected molds and made gunpowder, dismantled lead plates, poured
lead and produced bullets, and produced its own ammunition. The people of Antep,
who have such blessed ancestors, have become a role model for our country as
the pioneers of perseverance, determination, getting out of every difficulty
and innovation.”
- It is impossible to escape from the green future
Hisarcıklıoğlu also
said that Gaziantep Chamber of Industry has determined a very correct theme,
adding that the green future is an inevitable process for the country, industry
and economy. The TOBB President warned that if this cannot be complied with,
additional customs duties will be paid on exports to Europe as of 2026, adding,
“This is 770 million Euros per year for now.” Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that
Gaziantep Chamber of Industry has now taken the work it started in this
direction with the green transformation last year one step further and said:
“It shows that it is seriously considering this issue and closely following the
paradigm shift in the world.As TOBB, we are trying to integrate our members into the
green transformation. We will soon launch a portal where our members can
calculate their carbon footprint. The architects of this organization also
deserve special praise. I congratulate our Gaziantep Chamber of Industry and
congratulate our Adnan Ünverdi President, management and assembly who
successfully completed the Chamber Election. With their work, Gaziantep is
rapidly advancing towards becoming a city that has a say in the world.With its transformation move in the industry,
model factory, technology development center and Vocational Training facility,
it brings both qualified people and high technology and high added value to our
city. Since its establishment, our Chamber of Industry has been providing
services that add value to Antep and carrying Gaziantep to the future with its
projects. I would like to take this opportunity to remember its founding
chairman, our elder Sani Konukoğlu. His saying 'honesty is the trick' has been
the basic philosophy of my business life. Abdülkadir Konukoğlu, who later took
over the flag, made Sanko a symbol of industrialization in Gaziantep and
Türkiye. He also served as the President of the Assembly in our Chamber and
provided valuable services. With Adil Sani Konukoğlu taking over the flag, we
witnessed that Sanko become a global brand and we are proud of him.Konukoğlu's support to Antep as the President
of the Chamber Assembly and to the sector as the President of the Textile
Sector Council is also admirable. Mr. Nejat Koçer, one of the Presidents of our
Chamber of Industry, who is our deputy and my colleague at TOBB in Ankara, is
among us. TOBB has made great efforts and efforts to reach its current level.
He has been our voice in the assembly and has given continuous support. We also
have a tremendously hardworking mayor in Antep, Fatma Şahin, who has become a
brand in local government and has been elected as a world champion in her
field. We have a very valuable governor who always supports business people and
keeps his door open. One of the chances of Gaziantep is that it has always
produced such valuable names.In fact, all my Chamber and Commodity Exchange Presidents
in Gaziantep are working with a great vision. All of them have undertaken
various duties at TOBB. They constantly follow and communicate your troubles
and problems. Together with the support given by our Minister of Trade, they
are ensuring that many of them are resolved. When the public and private
sectors are so strong and act together as one, the brand value of the city
increases. After all, when we join hands, when we work together, when
consultation and common sense prevail, there is nothing we cannot achieve.As long as we don't marginalize each other.
Let's not exclude anyone as the other. I also believe that Antep will reach
much better levels in the future. Approximately 4,000 industrial products are
manufactured in Türkiye. 1,167 of them are available in Gaziantep. And Antep is
the province with the most production capacity in 133 products, second in 120
products and third in 117 products. Our industrialists have made Gaziantep a
star in the region. Now, together with our Chamber, it is initiating the green
transformation. Gaziantep, the driving force of Türkiye's industry, is also
leading this transformation with its innovation. Therefore, I believe that
Gaziantep will take its place among the winners of the future.”