Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli and The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey ( TOBB ) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu signed the “IPARD Project Preparation Cooperation and Training Protocol,” at the TOBB Twin Towers.

The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Pakdemirli

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli stated that investors can prepare their projects free of charge in the 42 provinces in which the European Union (EU) Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance-Rural Development Program (IPARD) is implemented through TOBB's chambers and exchanges free of charge

Pakdemirli explained that IPARD, the EU's rural development grants, constitutes an important and effective pillar of the EU process and said that they are cooperating with TOBB for the more effective use of IPARD grants granted by the Agriculture and Rural Development Support Agency (TKDK).

Pakdemirli emphasized that the protocol, which will provide an important convenience and alternative to investors, means that projects under IPARD can now be prepared free of charge. “Thanks to this protocol, investors will be able to prepare their projects free of charge through the chambers and exchanges within the TOBB, in 42 provinces where IPARD is implemented.”

Pakdemirli also pointed out that they have been engaging in affirmative action in regards to women and youth as a part of IPARD and said, “We give additional points to our women in their projects and give priority in ranking. As well as national resources, we continue to support rural development, and we will continue to support the development of rural development in 39 provinces with the support of the nationally funded Rural Development Investments Program as well as in 39 provinces not covered by IPARD. We will continue to contribute to the growth of our country.”

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu

Emphasizing the need for the development of new policies in agriculture, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the importance of IPARD supports becomes apparent at this point.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We are benefiting from these supports in our agriculture and animal husbandry sectors. We provide 75% of IPARD support from EU funds. Since 2011, 14,500 projects have been supported by IPARD support in 42 provinces. 3.8 billion TRY has been provided in grants while 10 billion TRY has been invested and 60,000 people were employed. As a result of the positive negotiations of the EU Commission and our Ministry, I believe that similar figures will be achieved in the upcoming period.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that thanks to the “Applied Project Writing Training,” which will be coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, will train chamber and exchange personnel in IPARD project preparation:

“As TOBB, we are doing our part to ensure that our members are benefiting from IPARD support through our 77 commodity exchanges and chambers of commerce where commodity exchanges are unavailable. We care greatly about the widespread utilization of the IPARD Program by our members.”

Following the speeches, the protocol signed by Minister Pakdemirli and TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu will provide the investors with the opportunity to prepare a free project for IPARD incentives provided by TKDK.