NEWS: SÜMEYRA YARIŞ TOPAL / MÜGE BİBER / ŞEREF KILIÇLI

Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ICOC) President Şekib Avdagiç, said that “The numbers show us that we have to come back to life without being captive of Covid-19. We will gain the power by production, we will evaluate the forward opportunities through gaining the power.”

Avdagiç expressed in the Council with 138 years of ICOC having 415 thousand members in which the meeting has been done as online at first time in its history, and said like that, “Turkey will achieve again  to protect its economy as we protected  the health of our public. We must keep to produce to protect the sensetive links of our economic chains. It is not possbile to continue by delaying everyting. We must keep producing.”

THE MOST VALID WORD IS DURABILITY

Avdagiç talked about the changable global value chains of the companies said that, “Now the most valid word is no longer “the maximization of profit and productivity”.Now the most valid word will be “durability”. The those having durability will succeed.”

Avdagiç highlighted the success of Turkish bussiness world on their performance on the medical equipment production and its fight agains Covid-19 said that “Turkish companies from different sectors demonstrated their leader positions and capacities to the world on the medical material and devices production. On this period, Turkish bussines world with the foundations of our government together did not only product the surgical mask but also it proved its capability on the production of the machine producing the mask and its software as well.”

WE ARE THANKSFUL FOR OUR HEALTH WORKERS

Şekib Avdagiç pays attention to the devoted works of the health army on the fight with the outbreak, and says that “Each health worker from almoners to the professors fighted like in the front withouth caring of themselves. On behalf of our business world I convey my thanks again to the Health Minister on behalf of our all health workers.”

POST-AMERICAN WORLD

Avdagiç mentioned that they are witness for desperation of world’s most improved countries against to pandemic with the collapse of their health systems, and  evaluated like that “we have seen that the hospitals are desperate with their less respiration devices. We have seen the realities and perceptions. Covid-19 has indicated us that the most improved countries directing the world have forgotten their roles in the world and focused their problems. That is why most experts have started to argue about the “Post-American World”.

WE SPEND THE THINGS CAME FROM OUR MEMBERS FOR OUR MEMBERS

President Şekib Avdagiç explained that ICOC meets and finds the solutions for the problems of Istanbul’s business world with TOBB, Governorships, Ministries on this period. Avdagiç highlighted that ICOC gives biggest support for 2020 Breath Credit declared by TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu in last week, and said that “ we have been spending the things came from our members for our members for 138 years”.

PRECAUTIONS TAKEN BY OUR SUGGESTIONS

ICOC President Şekib Avdagiç mentioned their follows hour by hour on up-to-date problems in the eye of Istanbul City Pandemic Council and all ministries, and said like that “ICOC supports the most of all precautions related to Covid-19 taken by  our Governmorships and Governments”. Avdagiç expressed that they do never hesitate to afford the needs of hospitals, they attach importance to the supply of medical materials. Avdagiç sorted some demands presented and accepted by ICOC like that:

• KDV, SGK, witholding payments on april, may and june have been postponed for 6 months.
• Accommodation tax has been postponed till 1st of January in 2021.
• KDV rate on airline transportation has been decreased in one in a hundred till 30th of June in 2020.
• KGF support has been increased to 500 billion TL.
• The operations having utmost 125 million TL turnovers have been included in terms of account receivable insurance.
• Credit, principal and interest payments of the firms affected by Covid-19, have been postponed for 3 months and the financial support has been done for them.
• The limit on credit support has been increased to 125 billion TL.
• Cheque payment credit has been supported with KGF support in all sectors.
• Proper financing opportunity with less interest rates has been supported to increase the consuming.
• Applications and conditions in terms of short working allowance have been facilitated. The requested document number has been decreased from 10 to 2.
• Flexible and distant working models have been provided  much more suitable according to legislation.
• The minimum wage supports will be continued. Working on support to increase is ongoing.
• KDV and BA/BS declarations and payments have been postponed for a month.
• Warehouse wages on Mersin port have been decreased.
• Combination of SGK and witholding declarations has been postponed to first July of 2020.
• Establishing of mobil laboratories making PCR test in Kapıkıle Tax Gate and diagnostic test for Covid-19 has been confirmed.
• The debts of operations taking credits from banks till 30th of June in terms of the programs of KOSGEB support, have been postponed for 3 months without any interest
• Water expenses of the operations stopping their activities have been postponed for 3 months.
• The filing and tax payment time on corporation tax declaration for account term of 2019 have been extended to the end of the day of first June of 2020.
• KFG may let the bailment for Eximbank credits. Besides, the works on credit assurances especially for Eximbank credits are ongoing to be decreased or removed.
• TOBB 2020 Breath Credit has been realized.
• Turkish drivers entered from Iraq and Iranian border gates to the country have been permitted to go out to abroad again without waiting 14 days quarantine time (inside 72 hours).
• The vehicles carrying medical materials which are needed urgently have been prioritized.

THE VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS HONORED US

Şekib Avdagiç mentioned that nearly 40 vocational and technical high schools established by Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, 54 vocational high schools in Istanbul supported by ICOC  honored themselves, and said like that “ these high schools indicated their abilities and producing capacities turning the hard conditions to opportunities with their mask productions.”

WE CAN MUDDLE  FROM COVID-19 THROUGH WRITING A DEVELOPMENT STORY

Şekib Avdagiç said that “Turkey has an opportunity to muddle from this outbreak through writing a different development story than the world although all obstacles if we attach importance to our young and demanding population”, and kept the words like that: Turkey showed its production ability to everyone in this outbreak. The importance of the domestic production came forward one more time. Everybody understood the mind of being a power with own, the importance of food security and modern agriculture. Now Turkey has an important opportunity while world economy is narrowing. Turkey will muddle from this outbreak through domestic production as in the motto “We are enough for us.” Thus, Turkey will rescue from this situation with less damages. Morever, Turkey will muddle from this calamity through gaining power.”

REFLECTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL

These days will pass We keep the facilities

Istanbul Chamber of Commerce Council President Öztürk Oran mentioned that we will beat this illness in a conceivable period as we have done in the past illnesses, and said that “we will be witness for a global development with the effect of postponed demands. The reason is to adapt to new system after the outbreak.”

Oran signed that they have much more responsibilities rather than usual, and kept like that:  “The thoughts, suggestions, aspects and your demands which you talk, will be exit map for Turkey to muddle from this hard period. Our chamber is coming forward nowadays through its facilities with traders and government in particular. Our target on this period is to open the employement doors, support our entrepreneurs, keep our firms alive, develop our production and trade capacities. Our government knows its responsibilities. We will keep standing again. Although we can not break fast together, these days will pass with the permission of God (Allah c.c.).”

We support for agricultural financing

Mustafa Manac- Fruit and Vegetabla Trade Committee : As wholesale market hall traders we are obligated to send the prices of goods we sold to villagers inside 15 days. If we do not send,  there is criminal liability. We support for agricultural financing. But, we ask to market owners why they pay it inside 4-5 months. The financial responsibilities of villagers increase. It is said that a new regulation related to this issue will be done inside a month. But, that paragraph has been removed from the regulation. Which one is important; billion villagers or 20-30 market owners? Does Istanbul Chamber of Commerce support this case?

Landholders must show understanding on renting

Mehmet Yıldırım- Baklava, Cake and Sugary Products Trade Committee: Our sector has been affected by the outbreak so much. Our sales have decreased to 20-30 in a hundred. We pass from a hard economic situation. We could not benefit  from some supports. Our sector could not benefit from KDV and SGK payment  postponements .  We thank to our president, government  and chamber to support us to sell our products on packages. We saw the importance of online shopping and service network on this period. Unfortunately there is not a solution for prices on renting. The operations are close in 10 days quarantine. We request from landholders to support the operations on this hard period.

There must be a regulation for cheques and bonds

Giyasettin Eyyüpkoca- Ready Made Clothing and Confection Trade Committee:  People talk about the new era of the world but no one talks about the trade of this new era. The routes must be showed for all sectors. Normalization on month of September is seen. But we lost the summer season. Most of people used cheques and bonds. 60 or 70 in a hundered of these cheques  will be paid back. How do people pay back all these cheques after 6 months? There must be a regulation for cheques and bonds as well. 

There must be flexibility on Breath Credit

Hüseyin Karasu- Textile Trade Committee: We have been talking about the force major since 27th of March. But 90 in a hundred sectors could not benefit from this force majör. Why was  the regulation prepared if the sectors were affected? No one from our sector got response for breath credit. We request for Denizbank to be given flexibility. There are 10-11 subjects. People are in hard conditions.  KDV must be not taken for invoices till the end of this year.

Financing opportunities of our sector must be increased

Tamer Dinçşahin- Transportation and Logistic Services Trade Committee: This term indicated the necessity of the logistics. We keep our non-stop services. Our drivers were taken in 14 days quarantine and there was a visa problem because of the closed consulates. But we did not viztimize none of the sectors. The works on month of April were decreased as 55 in a hundred. Vehicle numbers going abroad from Kapıkule decreased from 1900 to 800s. After the pandemic period, logistic must be brought to the agenda. There must be much more financing opportunities and credits for logistic sector. Because the source of our sectors is limited. SGK payments of this year must not be taken for 6 months.  Motor vehicle tax must not be taken in this year. KDV returns must be given fastly. The assurances in storehouses increased 2.5 times, all these must be decreased.

Flower shops must be open on Mother’s Days

Kadir Gümüş – Paysage and Flowering Trade Committee: Our retail flowering sector had intensive working on between 1st of April and 15th of June in regular days. But, we came face to face with the problems of this outbreak. 70 in a hundred flower shops is closed. Other open shops have only 15 works in a hundred. May be the quarantine delayed exceptionally for mother’s days? Some hours may be determined for this day.  We request a exceptional timing to go out on behalf of flower shops on this quarantine.

Martyrdom title must be given to health workers

Mustafa Cantürk – Health Services Trade Committee: 7 thousand 438 persons working in health sector catched Covid-19. Most health workers died because of Covid-19. We request for thoese who died  in health sector with the reason of Covid-19 that the martyrdom title must be given for them. Besides, N95 masks given by  District Health Directorships to health workers are not suitable. We can not find quality masks althouth we need. KDV of THY decreased from 8 to one in a hundred. But the KDV of medical devices is not decreased. I want that the retention tax is removed instead of being delayed.

Why we do not benefit from the credits

Numan Hocaoğlu – Opticianry and Watchmaking Trade Committee: Some in our sector was taken in the terms of force major. Our retail part was be included in this system but; wholesalers, manufacturer, importer and exporters were not be included.  There is no response although we applied for short working allowance on 30 th of March. There is good news about  the credit with low interests for members of chamber and commodity. But, the number of traders having opportunity to benefit from this credit is  very few.

Temporary declaration must not be given for first term

Hacı Demir- Financial Advisorship Trade Committee: As financial advisors we have heavy workdload on this period.  Many supports were declared on these days.  Wish the supports were given without any differantation on NACE codes. One person workers did not take this support. People having Bağ-Kur insurance must  apply for unemployement insurance as well. 100 TL is not enough for those who can not benefit from shot working allowance. Our commercial firms can not find the mask. What will happen to operations having less than 10 workers? Besides, temporary declaration must not be given for first term, it must ben given for second term.

The credit debts must be postponed

Ferhan Ademhan – Wholesale and  Foreign Commerce Trade Committee:  Breath Credit is good but it is for 2 years firms, others can not benefit from the credit. What is the excuse of the new operations? Besides, credit debts on private banks must be regulated again.

“Mask number must not be limited”

Serkan Bilir – Restoration and Isolation Trade Committee: There are firms in out of Istanbul. They have obstacles while transporting. All these obstacles must be removed.  I can not understand 10 persons lmitation to get the mask. We take many complaints about short working allowance. They say that they do not get any feedback. The precautions for the firms must be taken properly to commence operation.

The importance of patent will increase

Kemal Yamankaradeniz – Management Support Services: The most popular issue will be patent and brand after the pandemic period. The new product demands will come forward. The pandemic period has indicated the importance of production. We keep working with our firms in this sector on this period. We wished to be taken in terms of force major. Service sector will be much more active.This sector keeps its facilities with its domestic production in a hundred percent. The sector still keeps the patent on this period in Turkey. There is no dramatic downs on patent and brand demands on the months of March and April. The financial support will be needed while the technological background is being fixed on this new term. The banks have to take the project assurance into consideration much more.

International bartering system may be formed

Bekir Taner Ateş- String and Fiber Goods Trade Committee:  Textile sector is a sector having 45 billion dollars. But the sector is stopped. We can not take commercials from Europe and Russia. Otherwise they do much more discount from us. The goods in European tax offices wait like that. We need regulations on the eye of Ministry. The cheque issues must be brought to the agenda. Other issue is that we have surplus goods in different sectors. Our govenrment can form a bartering system.

There must be discount on electricity and natural gas

Halit Örgad – Home Textile Trade Committee:  Petrol prices down to 75 in a hundred percent in terms of electric energy. Government supports are not enough that the discount on electricity and natural gas must be made. No one from our environment have taken the credit yet. The credits were not confirmed for the applicants who applied one month ago. There are also problems with short working allowances. Our mission is to bring these issues to the agenda. 1.160 TL unamployement payment is not enough.

The rents must be decreased 50 in a hundred percent till the end of the year İlhan Yılmaz – Traffic Advisorhips Trade Committee:

KDV increased to 18 in a hundred percent in 2012. We request that it must be decreased to one in a hundred. Besides, renting prices of rent a car offices placing in airports are 20 thousand Euros. Our suggestion is that these renting prices are not taken for 3 months, and 50 in a hundred percent discount till the end of year.  We presented 1000 vehicles for the request of governorships on the use of Health Ministry. Their monthly renting price is 4 billion TL. After the pandemic period, the number of individual vehicle usage will increase. The demands on caravan usage will increase on the tourism sector. OTVs are so high for people who want to buy caravan. Because of that they purchase a car which is 8 or 10 years old and they transform it to a caravan.

We are in the same ship

Nuri Özelmacıklı – Property Advisorship Trade Committee: We are in the same ship. All of us is trader, but we can not benefit from any support presented by our government because of the NACE code. My accountant goes to İŞKUR but he can not get any result. If the justice collapses, the system will collapse as well.