01.11.2023 Antalya
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu attended the ATSO 100th Anniversary of the Republic Award Ceremony hosted by Ali Bahar, President of the Antalya Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Antalya Metropolitan Mayor Muhittin Böcek also took part in the ceremony.
In his speech here,
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Antalya has given morale to the whole country with
its achievements and said, “You have written a worldwide success story in
tourism. The number of tourists arriving this year reached 15 million. In the
same period last year, this number was 11 million. On the other hand, Antalya
has also made a name for itself in industry and agriculture. You have again
become a world brand in yacht production. In
fruit-vegetable-horticulture-floriculture, you are without a competition.
Therefore, Antalya is very important for Türkiye, for the economy. When Antalya
grows, Türkiye also grows. When Antalya suffers, so does Türkiye. Therefore,
Antalya should always be given special attention.”
- Antalya is also a symbol of economic transformation
Stating that Antalya is
the symbol of the transformation in the Turkish economy with its great success
story in the economy, Hisarcıklıoğlu said: “It has become the shining star and
brand city not only in Türkiye but also in this great region that includes the
entire Mediterranean. It did this with the help of our entrepreneurs, who will
soon receive their well-deserved awards. Knowing the importance of Antalya, I
visited Antalya every year, except for the pandemic, and whenever you invite
me. I take your pulse, listen to your problems and opinions. Together with my
Chamber and Commodity Exchange Presidents, we prepare proposals and convey them
to the government. I am also proud of our Antalya Chamber and Commodity
Exchange as they are both accredited. They offer European quality service. ATSO
is also implementing important projects to support our members. ATSO Advantage
Card, Innovation Center, Academy, International Competitiveness Development and
Clustering Projects are each valuable for our Antalya business world. It is
these types of visions that make cities brands, enrich them and make them stand
out in the world. Hopefully, thanks to the unity and solidarity I see here,
Antalya will achieve its goals. I work together with all the Presidents of the
Chambers and Commodity Exchanges in Antalya in our boards at TOBB. We are
together with my brother Ali Çandır in the TOBB Administration. My brother Ali
Bahar has also assumed duties both in our CCI Council and in the General
Administration Board of TOBB. I also benefit from their experience and
knowledge in Ankara. I am very pleased to work with all of them. At the point
that TOBB has reached today, our Antalya Chambers-Commodity Exchanges and
Presidents have a great share.”
- School good news from Hisarcıklıoğlu
Reminding that as TOBB,
they built a Science High School with 24 classrooms in Antalya-Kepez, M. Rifat
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they took another step in line with the request of
the Chamber and Commodity Exchange Presidents and decided to build a school in
Alanya, Manavgat and Kumluca.
Hisarcıklıoğlu said: “I
am hopeful about the future of my country as long as we do not marginalize each
other. Let's not exclude anyone because of their ideas, opinions and beliefs.
Let us love and respect each other. Remember, 100 years ago, we were poor,
tired, a nation exhausted by wars. Our ancestors who founded the Assembly,
brought the Republic and gifted us this beautiful homeland never fell into
despair. They had nothing in hand, nothing in palm. But they had a love for
independence and hopes and dreams for the future. The most important fact is
that the miracle of National Liberation was achieved out of disasters and
poverty. The Republic of Türkiye, whose 100th anniversary we have
reached, is the most beautiful partnership of millions of people who have
shared destiny in these lands. Standing tall against of the world means that we
are Türkiye. It is the declaration of the rebirth of the Turkish nation from
its ashes, which struggled with various kinds of poverty, fought enemies far
superior to themselves, but never gave up. I commemorate with mercy and gratitude
our ancestors, especially Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who gave us this homeland by
putting their lives on the line, to whom we owe our existence, those who fought
valiantly for the stability and future of our country, and all the sons of our
homeland who were veterans and martyrs. In the second century of our Republic,
we will be brave like our ancestors. We will continue to think big and dream
big. We will follow the path of those who gifted and entrusted our homeland and
our Republic to us. We will continue to work with all our strength to leave a
more prosperous and strong country to future generations. God willing, we will
join hands together and bring our country to the place it deserves, and we will
be among the world's largest economies.”
TOBB President M. Rifat
Hisarcıklıoğlu presented a special 100th anniversary award to
Archery World and Olympic Champion Mete Gazoz at the ceremony.