ATO President Baran: Sourcing Products and Services from Our Country is Not a Preference, but a Strategic Necessity

Forex - The Chairman of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO), Gürsel Baran, reminded that Turkey has been facing a persistent current account deficit problem that has been attempted to be reduced to a sustainable level for many years. He stated that the provision of local products and services from Turkey has become a strategic necessity rather than a choice in order to lower the current account deficit and increase production and employment.

Baran called for all official institutions, universities, municipalities, non-governmental organizations, professional organizations, and chambers and exchanges to adopt the “domestic” preference in the procurement of products and services, asserting, “This approach is not only an economic issue, but also a social responsibility.”

The November Ordinary Assembly Meeting of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) was held with the joint participation of ATO Assembly and Committee Members, chaired by Assembly President Mustafa Deryal. In the meeting conducted in the ATO Assembly Hall, Gürsel Baran, the President of the ATO, shared information about the board's activities and evaluated current economic developments. He noted that the world economy is going through a painful process and emphasized that Turkey, located in a geography experiencing intense wars and conflicts, must preserve its economic strength.

Reminding that Turkey has been attempting to reduce the current account deficit for many years, Baran affirmed that ensuring local products and services from Turkey has become a strategic necessity for lowering the current account deficit level and increasing production and employment. He stated that supporting domestic production has become their mission as the Ankara Chamber of Commerce, emphasizing the critical role of public and private sector cooperation in strengthening production and employment.

• CALL FOR DOMESTIC PRODUCTS AND SERVICES - Baran, who called for all official institutions, universities, municipalities, non-governmental organizations, professional organizations, and chambers and exchanges to adopt the “domestic” preference in the procurement of products and services, said:
  “We have a current account deficit problem that needs to be reduced. A national perspective should be prioritized at this point. In an environment where the required products and services can be provided from Turkey in a quality manner, prioritizing these items is not merely a choice, but a strategic necessity. We believe that with our developing production infrastructure and qualified human resources, local production can gain more ground in public procurements. Therefore, I urge all official institutions, universities, municipalities, non-governmental organizations, professional organizations, and chambers and exchanges to embrace this approach, which will invigorate our domestic market. This approach is both an economic issue and a matter of social responsibility.”

• "REVIEW THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF UTS" - In his speech, Baran mentioned that the members of ATO have expressed concerns that the National Vehicle Recognition System (UTTS), which will come into effect on January 1, 2025, as part of the regulation by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance to prevent unregistered activities in the fuel sector, will impose an extra and unprepared burden on fuel distribution businesses and vehicles obtained through leasing or included in the business and used therein.

Baran stated that under the UTS, vehicles are expected to be equipped with a Vehicle Recognition Unit, which can be mounted at the depot entrance, storing plate information and taxpayer-related data, and automatically transmitting this information via the Vehicle Recognition Reader (TTO) device to the next-generation pump payment recording devices connected to the pump units during fuel purchases. He noted, “Our members insist that the costs arising from the system's implementation will constitute a burden. We fully support the efforts of our Ministry of Treasury and Finance to prevent tax losses. Combating the informal economy should be the top priority of both the state and the business world. However, with the implementation of UTS, many different sectors engaged in commercial activities, both in fuel distribution and other areas, will face additional costs. Therefore, we request that the effective date of UTS be reconsidered."