26.10.2016
The President of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority (BTK), Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan, attended the TOBB Turkey e-Commerce Sector Council Meeting. The meeting, hosted by TOBB, took place in Ankara on 25.10.2016. The meeting was attended by the Minister of Customs and Trade, Mr. Bülent Tüfenkci, TOBB President Mr. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, and sector representatives. The members of the e-Commerce Council include representatives from Turkey's leading e-commerce companies, public institutions regulating e-commerce, and e-commerce associations. All segments are represented in the council, from companies selling products and services through online channels to internet service providers, cargo companies, and payment service providers.
Speaking at the TOBB Turkey e-Commerce Sector Council Meeting, Minister of Customs and Trade Tüfenkci said, “The e-commerce sector is growing rapidly both in the world and in Turkey.” Tüfenkci stated, “Commerce today is emerging as electronic commerce. We need to read today's and tomorrow's world well and analyze what is happening properly. Instead of physical, legal, and financial markets, it is shifting towards online marketing, electronic platforms, and virtual shopping centers. Now, most transactions are conducted over the internet. It is important for the public sector and the business world to act together. The electronic commerce sector has grown by an average of 50 percent in our country over the last 3 years. There is a shift towards interactive marketing instead of traditional marketing. Companies meet their customers in the digital environment, product and brand promotions, and sales transactions are conducted in this medium; e-commerce is gaining importance in our country just as it is important in the world. Increasing added value is the product of a whole system, e-commerce is very important for the development of our country; with e-commerce, commercial activities are carried out faster and more comfortably while costs are significantly reduced, and it has expanded business markets.”
In his speech, Dr. Sayan touched upon the following topics: “E-commerce covers many areas from communication to computer technology. As the Information Technologies and Communication Authority (BTK), while making regulations in the field of information technologies and communication on one hand, we are also carrying out important studies regarding the postal sector, which is indispensable for e-commerce, and making regulations on cargo-related matters. Unfortunately, the cargo sector has been somewhat neglected. Especially, we have many international examples to promote e-commerce. While developing exports on one hand, we are conducting studies to grow our market on the other. I want to state that we, as BTK, will be greatly pleased to work with you on all kinds of regulations that will pave the way for the sector. Your valuable opinions are important to us in developing strategies to ensure the international-scale development of our postal sector and in making regulations that will contribute to the sector's development in a competitive environment.”
At the end of his speech, Dr. Sayan wished success to the candidates and thanked those who contributed.