"Gaziantep's Stars Award Ceremony" was held with the theme of "Twin Conversion" (Green Conversion and Digital Conversion) awareness.

In order to crown the achievements of industrialists by Gaziantep Chamber of Industry (GSO); "Stars of Gaziantep Award Ceremony" was held with the theme of "Twin Conversion" (Green Conversion and Digital Conversion) awareness.

Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek, Kilis Governor Tahir Şahin, Deputy Governor of Gaziantep Muhammet Önder, Members of Parliament İrfan Çelikaslan, Mehmet Mustafa Gürban, ErtuğrulKaya, Former Member of Parliament Nejat Koçer, Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin, Gaziantep University (GAÜN) Rector Prof. Dr. Arif Özaydın, Hasan Kalyoncu University (HKU) Rector Prof. Dr. Türkay Dereli, TOBB Board Member Zeki Kıvanç, GSO Honorary President Abdulkadir Konukoğlu, Assembly President Adil Sani Konukoğlu, Chairman of the Board Adnan Ünverdi, provincial and city administrators, industrialists and many guests attended the award ceremony held at Şehitkamil Culture and Congress Center (ŞKM) in order to encourage industrialists from Gaziantep and ensure the continuation of their successful work.

MEHMET ŞİMŞEK, MINISTER OF TREASURY AND FINANCE

Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek, who made a presentation to the participants at the Ceremony Gaziantep's Stars Award Ceremony, Pointing out that the theme and content of the Stars of Gaziantep Award Ceremony are very important, “İn the point, we need to implement Gaziantep Chamber of Industry’s vision.” The World is rapid transformation with Digital and Artificial Intelligence. The countries ,which the opportunity is evaluate the best, will be enhancing productivity increase and growth. Green Conversion is opportunity to have important potential both environment and increase welfare. Gaziantep will be the new address of green and digital conversion, as in many areas. "I congratulate GSO Assembly President Adil Sani Konukoğlu, Chairman of the Board Adnan Ünverdi, the Assembly and the Board of Directors for their vision," he said.

Ministry Şimşek addressing the participants with the presentation mention the global outlook, the Medium Term Program and its achievements, and the supports provided within the scope of production-oriented sustainable growth.

Şimşek continued his speech by stating that increasing protectionist tendencies in global trade, aging populations, high debt levels, the climate crisis, and weak growth among our trading partners are the major global challenges. He further noted:

“On the other hand, recent declines in commodity prices and expectations of improving global financial conditions are considered positive. Price stability is a precondition for sustainable high growth and lasting prosperity. Therefore, our program focuses on reducing inflation. However, achieving price stability is a gradual process. We have started to see the positive impacts of our program on monthly inflation. A decrease in annual inflation is expected from June 2024 onwards. While earthquake-related expenditures temporarily disrupted budget balance, we have implemented income and expenditure policies to restore fiscal discipline. We expect the budget deficit to stay below 6% of GDP in 2023. Our country has shown above-average growth performance over the past twenty years. However, there is a need for rebalancing in the composition of growth in recent periods. Thanks to the measures taken, we have seen the beginning of this rebalancing in the third quarter of 2023. The annual current account deficit decreased by $9.6 billion in October compared to May. There has been increased foreign investor interest in our country and program recently. With reduced current account deficit and increased capital inflows, gross reserves increased by $42 billion compared to May.”

Şimşek emphasized their support for the real sector towards sustainable growth focused on production and exports, stating, “The Investment Commitment Prepayment Credit (YTAK) program has been restructured. Applications will start on December 20. A limit of 300 billion TL has been allocated for 10-year term, low-interest loans for investment projects exceeding 1 billion TL for a period of 3 years. We have a robust investment incentive system. We also support exporters' access to finance and service exports. In this context, the daily rediscount credit limit has been increased tenfold, an upper limit has been set for total interest costs, and additional export invoice sales conditions have been removed. Eximbank's capital has been increased to 20.6 billion TL. A tax exemption for income from service exports has been submitted to our Parliament. Additionally, under the Treasury-backed credit guarantee system, 18 new support packages have been implemented this year, including two for earthquake regions. In this way, we have facilitated access to finance for companies.

DEPUTY GOVERNOR of GAZİANTEP

Gaziantep Vali Vekili Muhammet Önder highlighted Gaziantep as a leading city, stating during his speech, "I sincerely congratulate and wish continued success to the companies honored at the Gaziantep Stars Awards Ceremony, organized under the theme of Twin Transformation awareness."

Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin emphasized that the Gaziantep model is exemplary, saying, "I congratulate the industrious producers who continue to work under any circumstances, the stars of Gaziantep. By continuing our work with an innovative approach, we will advance our city and our country to higher levels. Gaziantep possesses a significant human capital and skilled workforce. These characteristics of our city are highly valuable for our industry and our future. Our goal for Gaziantep is to become one of the world's best production centers. Valuable efforts are being made in this direction. To become a Smart City, Gaziantep's industry must transition to high technology. I place great importance on digital transformation for a greener world. I support Gaziantep Chamber of Industry's Twin Transformation approach, which includes green and digital transformation for a sustainable world. I say change and transformation are essential for more production and more exports. I congratulate all the awarded companies and wish them continued success."

TOBB Yönetim Kurulu Üyesi Zeki Kıvanç emphasized that Gaziantep Chamber of Industry has chosen a very appropriate theme, stating, “The Digital and Green transformation, also known as Twin Transformation, is an inevitable process for our country, industry, and economy. We express that companies failing to embrace this trend may become unable to export and suffer significant market losses.”

Highlighting the challenging times ahead, Kıvanç stated, “The world is undergoing significant change and transformation. We witness a major transformation due to global warming and digitalization, referred to by some as Twin Transformation. This process has many important aspects and sub-elements, including Green Deal, Carbon Footprint, Water Footprint, Circular Economy, Recycling, Farm to Fork Strategy, Carbon Market, and Sustainability, just to name a few. Zero carbon emission is aimed at the core of all these processes. Gaziantep Chamber of Industry's initiatives in this direction demonstrate its serious approach to these issues and its close monitoring of the global paradigm shift. They are producing programs and projects preparing our industry for this change, contributing valuable services to Gaziantep, and propelling the city into the future with implemented projects. With their efforts, Gaziantep is rapidly progressing towards becoming a globally influential city. Through the industrial transformation initiative! With its Model Factory, Technology Development Center, and GSO Vocational Training Center, they are providing our city with qualified people, high technology, and high added value. They are ensuring new exporters emerge from Gaziantep through the Export Academy they have established. Together with our industrialists, they are making Gaziantep, the driving force of Turkish industry, a star in the region. Years ago, the people of Gaziantep envied the successes achieved by the people of Adana. I heard a lot about it from my brother Adil Sani Konukoğlu. Now we Adana’s envy and take pride in Gaziantep's success personally. Thankfully, Gaziantep is no longer a follower! It has become a city that is followed. For this reason, I wholeheartedly congratulate and salute the Honorable President of the Chamber, Mr. Adil Sani Konukoğlu, the President of the Board of Directors, Mr. Adnan Ünverdi, and their esteemed Board and Assembly for their vision they have presented. Our Chamber is once again contributing positively today, honoring our industrialists who announce the strength of Turkish industry to the world. Already, our culture says; wholeheartedly congratulate all our industrialists who will receive the awards they deserve here. Despite all kinds of difficulties encountered, Gaziantep's entrepreneurs, who continue to work, produce, invest, and export with dedication, deserve the highest praise. We are proud of you and all our industrialists. We congratulate the entire business community of Gaziantep through you. We pray to God for your success to be continuous.”

GSO (Gaziantep Chamber of Industry) Chairman of the Board Adnan Ünverdi began his speech by offer condolence to the citizens, lost in the major earthquakes in Gaziantep and our region, praying for their souls and wishing patience for their families. He stated, "May God never let such a disaster happen to anyone again."

Continuing his address  global crises, Ünverdi said, "Globally, just when we thought one crisis had ended, we face new challenges." He highlight the 2018 crisis, followed by the pandemic starting in 2020, ongoing Russia-Ukraine war since 2022, major disasters in our region, and the struggle against occupation in Palestinian territories. He expressed concern over the tragedy in Gaza where innocents are killed, emphasizing, "As humanity, we are living through a time where we cannot look into children's eyes, a time where every moment is beyond words. I call for reason to prevail world wide and hope the massacre stops soon."

Ünverdi underscored the significance of this year for Turkey, paying tribute with respect, mercy, and gratitude to all our martyrs and veterans, especially Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades who bestowed this paradise homeland upon us. Reflecting on the tensions and wars in our region, he reiterated the importance of our Republic, the greatest legacy of Atatürk, in such chaotic times, stating, "We stand upright with republican values on the path he showed us. On this occasion, I extend my heartfelt congratulations on the anniversary of the Antep Defense, which saw 6317 martyrs, a crucial front of our War of Independence, and on the centennial of our Republic."

Highlighting Gaziantep's entrepreneurial spirit and continuous growth in the industrial sector, Ünverdi continued, "Despite all difficulties, Gaziantep continues its journey successfully today. At present, Gaziantep houses Turkey's largest and most employment-intensive Organized Industrial Zone with 1500 businesses and 250,000 employees. With existing and new OSBs, this number will increase to 12. Throughout the city, we have over 5,200 manufacturing firms producing thousands of varieties in 160 fields. In 2022, we achieved $10.5 billion in exports. Despite the earthquake disaster, as of the first 11 months of this year, our exports reached $9.152 billion, and we expect our exports to exceed $10 billion by the end of this year.

Ünverdi emphasized that Gaziantep Chamber of Industry, under the leadership of valuable presidents since its establishment, has pioneered many initiatives. He stated, "In line with this, adapting to the conditions of the day, in 2019 we launched our digital conversion initiative under the slogan 'Conversion Begins in Industry.' Due to the pandemic in 2020, we were unable to hold our awards ceremony. Our motto for 2021 became 'Productivity and Green Future.' In 2022, we accelerated our efforts under the theme 'Green Future.' We placed environmentally friendly production and high technology at the core of our efforts. In this direction, we are preparing our businesses to fulfill Turkey's commitments as a signatory to the Paris Climate Agreement and to meet the EU Green Deal Criteria, which will be a turning point for global trade. Time is running short for the border carbon adjustment, scheduled to begin implementation in 2026. It's crucial that not only priority sectors, but all sectors, without complacency, are ready for green production criteria. Because when that day comes, we will either be ready and surpass our competitors, or they will be ready and surpass us. We do not entertain the second option. Therefore, today we unite our efforts in digitalization and green transformation to strongly advocate for 'Twin Conversion,' believe that with this awareness, Gaziantep and our country will be even stronger in the future."

Highlighting the urgency of creating the Climate Law swiftly and developing policies accordingly, Ünverdi added, "Work is underway on the Emissions Trading System, but it needs to be institutionalized rapidly. This be accelerate the transition with production aligned with emission values and taxation. Looking at the overall economy, in the face of current challenges, we see a determined stance in economic management and inter agency synchronization as a great opportunity for overcoming this difficult period." As industrialist full give to support medium term program that trust, constitute milestones in terms of stability and predictability. As industrialists, we are doing our best to achieve production, employment and export-based growth, while monetary tightening and the fight against inflation continue, as stated in the Medium Term Program. I thanks to Mehmet Şimşek as well as they always are with us for with the facilitating steps and support they provide towards our earthquake region. I congratulate century old companies will taking awardGaziantep's strength lies in its unity and solidarity, which enable it to aspire to become a global city. Today, we are entering a new phase in our efforts under the theme of "Twin Conversion," and we declare that "the time is now." I thank you all for your participation in our award ceremony and extend my respectful greetings to everyone.

At the ceremony, awards were later presented to businesses established in 1923 or earlier, during the centennial of the Republic, with to firms listed in the ISO 500 and ISO Second 500 lists.