05.03.2023 İstanbul
The Presidents of the 12 Chambers of Industry within the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) met under the chairmanship of TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu to discuss what can be done to revive industry, trade and employment in the earthquake region.
As a result of the
consultation meeting hosted by İstanbul Chamber of Industry (ICI) President
Erdal Bahçıvan which lasted approximately 5 hours, a consensus was reached on
the implementation of 5 projects to revive the economy and employment of the
region.
The joint statement of
TOBB Chambers of Industry is as follows:
“As the Presidents of
the 12 Chambers of Industry within the Union of Chambers and Commodity
Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), we came together under the chairmanship of TOBB
President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and hosted by the İstanbul Chamber of
Industry to contribute to the revitalization and normalization process of the
economies of the 11 provinces affected by the earthquake.
The projects initiated
in this context and the suggestions that we consider to be beneficial to
implement are as follows:
“My supplier is from the Earthquake Zone”
In particular, we
invite large-scale companies to meet their raw material and semi-finished
product supplies from companies in the earthquake region. In this context, we
aim to revive trade in the region by making the necessary matches with the
producers in the region from the TOBB Industry Database. The aim is to inform
the Chambers and Commodity Exchanges and 65 Sector Councils members in all our
provinces and to ensure the participation of business circles throughout the
country in the project.
National Food Retailers study launched
Through Chambers,
Commodity Exchanges and Sector Councils, we aim for food retailers operating
nationally to purchase agricultural and food products and raw materials from
producers in the earthquake region. The work started in this regard will be
accelerated.
Affirmative action from e-commerce marketplaces
We aim to spread the
practice of not receiving commissions for the products to be delivered to
consumers from the companies in the earthquake region and to bring the
producers in the region to the forefront and to bring the producers in the
region to the forefront. Initiatives will be taken by cargo companies to reduce
the sales and cargo costs to be made over the internet from the region.
Technical Support Provision
We will launch a
technical support campaign through the Chambers and Commodity Exchanges and
with the contributions of our members in order to revive employment and
economic activity and to reactivate the damaged production facilities.
Additional Income Support for Employees
In order to recover
employment in the earthquake region, we assess that it would be beneficial to
return the income tax and insurance premium deducted from the employees
throughout 2023. This will ensure these deductions are reflected to the
employees as additional income.
Who attended the meeting:
The Union of Chambers
and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu,
TOBB Chambers of Industry Council President - İstanbul Chamber of Industry
President Erdal Bahçıvan, TOBB Vice President - İstanbul Commodity Exchange
President Ali Kopuz, TOBB Vice President - Kocaeli Chamber of Industry
President Ayhan Zeytinoğlu, TOBB Vice President - İstanbul and Marmara, Aegean,
Mediterranean, Black Sea Regions Chamber of Maritime Commerce President Tamer Kıran,TOBB Board Member - Adana Chamber of Industry
President Zeki Kıvanç, TOBB Board Member - Kayseri Chamber of Industry
President Mehmet Büyüksimitci, Aegean Region Chamber of Industry President
Ender Yorgancılar, Ankara Chamber of Industry President Seyit Ardıç, Aydın
Chamber of Industry President Gökhan Maraş, Balıkesir Chamber of Industry
President Nazmi Yarış, Denizli Chamber of Industry President Selim Kasapoğlu,
Eskişehir Chamber of Industry President Celalettin Kesikbaş, Gaziantep Chamber
of Industry Council President Adil Sani Konukoğlu, Gaziantep Chamber of
Industry President Adnan Ünverdi, Konya Chamber of Industry President Mustafa
Büyükeğen and Nevşehir Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Arif
Parmaksız.”