The Kocaeli Chamber of Industry (KCI) held the 7th Joint Meeting of the Professional Committees of its 9th term in Thessaloniki. As part of the program, the Thessaloniki Chamber of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises was also visited, and cooperation opportunities between the two countries were discussed.
KCI organized the meeting with strong participation under the leading of Chair of the Board Ayhan Zeytinoğlu and Assembly Chair Hasan Tahsin Tuğrul. The meeting brought together Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Thessaloniki Serkan Gedik, Trade Attaché Gülcan İren, Business Advisor at the International Relations Department of the Federation of Greek Industries Monika Nagy, Advisor to the President of the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Private Sector Liaison Officer to the World Bank Group Theodoros Axilithiotis, General Commercial Registry Auditor of the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry Theodoros Triantaffillidis, President of the Thessaloniki Chamber of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Makarios Papadopoulos and Board Member of the Greek Confederation of Small Businesses and Trades Panagiotis Gkofas. The participants shared information about their institutions and the economic structure of the Thessaloniki region. Chair of the Board of the Turkish Lloyd Foundation Prof. Dr. Oral Erdoğan also attended the meeting and delivered a presentation.
EMPHASIS ON THE ROLE OF PROFESSIONAL COMMITTEES
During the meeting, committee members discussed the challenges faced by Kocaeli’s industrial sector. They raised issues related to the KKDIK (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation competition with China in the machinery industry, limited land availability for solar power investments in the Marmara region, renewable energy, visa-related difficulties affecting industrialists, problems caused by a non-competitive exchange rate, customs tariffs, qualified employment and rising labor costs. Chair Ayhan Zeytinoğlu stated that KCI would carry out further work on these topics.
The meeting opened with a speech by Assembly Chair Hasan Tahsin Tuğrul, who underlined the importance of professional committees. Tuğrul noted that the concrete proposals developed through committee work are reviewed by the board of directors and turned into action.
WE ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO JOINT MEETINGS
Speaking after Tuğrul, Chair Zeytinoğlu said:
“As you know, we hold joint meetings of the Professional Committees twice a year. The feedback we receive here helps us shape our strategies and work programs. We also listen carefully to your problems and suggestions, convey them to the relevant authorities and work to create public awareness. For this reason, we attach great importance to these meetings. At a time when global competition is intensifying, we face protectionist measures worldwide, additional customs tariffs, competition from China and growing geopolitical risks. At the same time, we continue to struggle with domestic challenges such as fixed exchange rate policies, financing costs and labor costs.”
PROTECTIONIST MEASURES
Zeytinoğlu stated that the United States has violated World Trade Organization rules by imposing additional customs duties and noted that Türkiye’s exports to the US fell by 10 percent in October. He emphasized that exporters may face additional costs due to possible new tariffs and said that the government should provide various forms of support to prevent Türkiye from losing its position in this market. Zeytinoğlu also pointed out that a 30 percent additional customs duty could come into effect against China, which remains Türkiye’s largest import partner.
CUSTOMS UNION AND LOGISTICS
Zeytinoğlu stressed the need to remove quotas and similar barriers in road transportation and to make railway connections more effective. He stated that the European Union could finance these improvements. He also highlighted the importance of updating the Customs Union and attracting foreign investment to Türkiye, as seen in the 2004–2005 period. In addition, he addressed the fight against inflation, the need for a competitive exchange rate and easier access to finance.
Drawing attention to difficulties in finding qualified intermediate staff, Zeytinoğlu emphasized the need to increase employment. He added that rising labor costs represent a serious challenge that weakens Türkiye’s competitiveness in global markets.
TRADE VOLUME SHOULD CONTINUE TO GROW
Consul General Serkan Gedik also addressed the meeting and stated that relations between Türkiye and Greece have followed a positive course in recent years. He expressed his hope that trade volume between the two countries would continue to grow. Gedik noted the presence of many Turkish investments in the region and said, “We hope that your visits and contacts will lead to new cooperation opportunities. Together with our trade attachés, we stand ready to support the members of the Kocaeli Chamber of Industry.”
Trade Attaché Gülcan İren provided information on investment opportunities in the region and shared details about export support mechanisms.
INDUSTRIALISTS SHARE THEIR CHALLENGES
Following the speeches, committee members shared their views on the challenges faced by industrialists. Guest speaker Prof. Dr. Oral Erdoğan, Chair of the Board of the Turkish Lloyd Foundation, delivered a presentation titled “Short- and Long-Term Preference Transfers in the Economy.” He shared his assessments on inflation, the relationship between growth and interest rates in Türkiye and recent financial developments, and answered questions from committee members.
As part of the program, KCI members also visited the Thessaloniki Chamber of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. At the meeting hosted by Chamber President Marios Papadopoulos, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and former Rector of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Prof. Nikolaus Papaioannou, and Board Member of the Greek Confederation of Small Businesses and Trades Panagiotis Gkofas, participants discussed areas of mutual cooperation. Turkish and Greek companies also held bilateral business meetings during the visit.
