Anti-crisis campaign moves into second phase
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 23, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Seeking for solutions amid the global crisis, the Turkish business world, civil society and labor unions are continuing their joint "If there is a crisis, then there is a remedy" campaign.
The campaign, which started by urging citizens to go shopping, continues in its first month with the "Believe in your own power" motto, said Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, president of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, or TOBB. "Our aim is to discuss financial policy as a solution," he told journalists at a press conference Monday. "We also aim to boost domestic consumption and create a brisk environment in the domestic market. We chose this motto to help people understand and realize their own power. [We want to] create awareness toward the economy."
Since the campaign started last month, the Turkish people are more informed about the situation, according to Hisarcıklıoğlu. "It’s been four weeks since the campaign has started and people have become aware of the crisis."
"We are pleased to witness the extension of cuts in private consumption tax. We believe that the government has made important endeavors regarding the global crisis," he said. Noting that businesspeople and TOBB members expect sustainability in government incentives, he said: "We especially support the idea of distributing stimulus checks to those who have low incomes. Everyone needs incentives to be able to buy."
Commenting on rising unemployment and layoffs, Hisarcıklıoğlu said employers are not to blame. "Everybody should put an end to blaming each other. It is wrong to cut jobs, but it is also wrong to think of employers as opportunists."
Speaking after Hisarcıklıoğlu, Arzuhan Doğan Yalçındağ, chairwoman of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association, or TÜSİAD, said Turkey should believe in its own power. "We should never forget that belief is very important in economy," she said. "We should explain the importance of belief to the people."
"We should believe in the system and also believe that we can overcome the crisis.," Yalçındağ said. Complaining of government policies, Bendevi Palandöken, president of the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen, said there is still no stimulus package for tradesmen. "Unemployment is the biggest problem," said said Ergun Atalay, president of Türk-İş, Turkey’s biggest labor confederation
Since the campaign started last month, the Turkish people are more informed about the situation, according to Hisarcıklıoğlu. "It’s been four weeks since the campaign has started and people have become aware of the crisis."
"We are pleased to witness the extension of cuts in private consumption tax. We believe that the government has made important endeavors regarding the global crisis," he said. Noting that businesspeople and TOBB members expect sustainability in government incentives, he said: "We especially support the idea of distributing stimulus checks to those who have low incomes. Everyone needs incentives to be able to buy."
Commenting on rising unemployment and layoffs, Hisarcıklıoğlu said employers are not to blame. "Everybody should put an end to blaming each other. It is wrong to cut jobs, but it is also wrong to think of employers as opportunists."
Speaking after Hisarcıklıoğlu, Arzuhan Doğan Yalçındağ, chairwoman of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association, or TÜSİAD, said Turkey should believe in its own power. "We should never forget that belief is very important in economy," she said. "We should explain the importance of belief to the people."
"We should believe in the system and also believe that we can overcome the crisis.," Yalçındağ said. Complaining of government policies, Bendevi Palandöken, president of the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen, said there is still no stimulus package for tradesmen. "Unemployment is the biggest problem," said said Ergun Atalay, president of Türk-İş, Turkey’s biggest labor confederation