Our UGM Corporate Communications Director Sami Altınkaya's article entitled "We kept the pulse of industry in Konya" was published in the Dünya newspaper on 24.08.2020.

Debate of “Uncompleted” and beyond

“Incomplete” that is uncompleted. Processes are not completed. I used the phrase “uncompleted” in article about Customs broker associations I wrote last week. Istanbul, Izmir and Bursa Broker associations wanted to use their right to reply with the letter they sent. I want to share this with you first. The article begins with the history of the profession of customs brokerage. I have not already expressed a contrary opinion on this issue.

It says that Istanbul Customs Broker Association started its activity in 1909, and other associations followed it in the following years. In summary, the following statements are included in the incoming reply article;

He said that: “After the entry into force of the Customs Law No. 4458, which repealed the Customs Law No. 1615, and the customs regulations related to the law on 05.02.2000, all customs broker associations, as stated in the association's statutes, operates on the basis of the provisional 6^th article of Law No. 4458. Customs Brokers associations established within the framework of 166^th article of the Customs Law numbered 1615 continues its activities on the basis of provisional Article 6 of Law No. 4458, according to which customs brokers and assistants are bound by a law to be issued, as of the area of duty of the Chief Directorate of Customs and enforcement, until it is organized as a professional organization as a public institution. 

It is emphasized that the associations mentioned are established by law. It is subject to its own regulations. Because of this, they say they have completed their legal status.

In the reply article, it also says that the associations in question are subject to their own regulations. For this reason, it is written that our claim that their legal status is not complete is unwarranted and baseless. In the continuation Cahit Soysal's claim that “I cannot understand this issue” will mean said customs broker doesn’t remember his signature of approval in our association's charter and this is contrary to the usual flow of life."

I have shared with you the article that came so far as a journalist who adheres to the principles of impartial journalism. I also spoke to Customs General Manager Cahit Soysal in 1999. He said “There is no insult in your article. Other broker associations such as Mersin, Hatay and Eastern Marmara should also be subject to the Chamber of Associations. It's been going on like this for 20 years. How will the rights of brokers be protected if they are subject to the General Directorate of Customs? How to seek rights against an organization to which you report to?

The General Directorate of Customs also thinks like me that it publishes the following article. Let me pass on the article published by the General Directorate of customs of the Prime Ministry of Customs on this issue in 5 March 2007.

Customs broker associations established in accordance with article 166 of the Customs Code No. 1615 are subject to continue their activities in accordance with the provisional article 6/1 of the Customs Code No. 4458.

Regarding the subject in the writing of the Ministry of the Interior, Department of associations , the association was established as operating entities that are not covered by the law on associations No. 5253 and by the expression of the Customs Law No. 5072 on associations and foundations with public institutions on its relations orders shall be made in accordance with the provisions of the law; thus, the boards will application to the public administration in the provinces in which they are located, from now on, the information that these associations should carry out activities in accordance with the law No. 5253 and the Circular No. 185690 dated 09.06.2000 was repealed.

In Article numbered 25125 and dated 19.09.2006, it was requested that the relevant associations be allowed to continue their activities until their processes are completed with the draft.

 The answer of the said ministry is that “Customs broker associations operating under article numbered 319 and dated 31.01.2007 must adapt to regulations of 5253 and 5072 in accordance with the laws and apply to government offices in the provinces where it is founded."

When I read the article of Ministry of Interior, I had some questions.

Why are customs broker associations not subject to the law on associations? Why is it out of the control of the Ministry of Interior? Why don't they have a government commissioner at their general meeting by the Ministry of Interior? According to what and according to what criteria are dues collected from members of the association? How do they control the dues they collect? Why do only Istanbul, Bursa and Izmir associations object to this situation? Ankara Customs Broker Association does not think like you that it has not signed under this article? Why do Mersin, Hatay and Eastern Marmara customs broker associations operate in accordance with the law on associations, as the Ministry of Interior said? And why do you work under the General Directorate of Customs?

In fact, there is no other such example. Law No. 1615 was enacted on 19.07.1972. Customs broker associations were also established accordingly. With the 1980 coup, associations were closed, as political parties. With the termination of the bans, associations such as political parties have reopened.

What to say. May God bless this situation? By the way, as long as you forward to me, I will continue to publish the problems of customs brokers in my articles.

We kept the pulse of industry in Konya

It is everyone's common idea that economic relief will only be with production. Selling our manufactured goods and services at their value and being able to collect their money on time is also the biggest problem of a business person. If we achieve this, the unemployment problem will decrease and the country will be well. In order to successfully complete the process, you must have a healthy legal infrastructure. The capital looks for a safe harbor, and the key to a safe harbor also passes through the law.

I went to Konya to keep the pulse of production. The recently opened logistics center and the 5^th organized industrial zone excite business people. The presence of companies that want to invest in Konya and want to move their existing investments to the New OSB increases the hope for the future.

Business people have demands from the state to crown this excitement with value-added production with measures to be taken both in industry and agriculture.

Industrialists export their products, but collect their money at certain maturities. But the taxes on the total bill that was issued are paid to the state in advance. Industrialists are also rightly forced to pay taxes on money they do not collect, which does not go into their pocket. It is said that, "Let's take the money for what we sell and then pay the income tax. It forces us to pay taxes in advance on money we don't earn for income that doesn't exist yet.”

Industrialist also pays the salary of personnel, insurance, and energy costs in advance. It's nice to have taxes deferred with Covid19, but payday is coming up. If another postponement comes to January 2021, the industrialist will have to triple and pay off the debts that were moved at the beginning of the New Year. Short work allowances and free permits enable breathing to some extent. But problems are accumulated. In order for the industrialist to stand up and run, the state must print money if necessary and take over some items itself. This can create inflation, but unemployment brings bigger problems in the future. ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎

Industrialists are also having problems with the supply of raw materials. It's hard to get raw materials even in advance to buy futures. Turkey's falling confidence index also causes raw material producers to abstain. Unfortunately, Turkey is dependent on foreign production, so it has to buy raw materials from outside in order to produce the products it will export. We have an import-dependent export. In the middle of this situation, the introduction of additional customs duties for reducing imports also negatively affects exports. If the countries we export to apply similar taxes to Turkey, our economy may be negatively affected. In other words, when I reduce imports and close my foreign trade deficit, we may face a situation such as slowing exports. In order for our foreign exchange revenues to increase, we have to export.

The reason for the large collapse experienced in recent years in agricultural areas, especially in Konya, is that agricultural enterprises plant corn instead of wheat. Corn production requires more irrigation. The reduction of groundwater and the removal of deeper water to the surface to water the corn, creating swallow hole. The right policies in industry and agriculture should be implemented not only for Konya, but also throughout the country.