Representatives of non-governmental organizations and fellow citizens' associations attended the program at the Atatürk Congress Cultural Center Yıldırım Bayezid Hall with the participation of Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan.
Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Alinur Aktaş said that Bursa is a very dynamic city with its 17 districts and 1060 neighborhoods. Stating that Bursa is the production base of Southern Marmara, Mayor Alinur Aktaş stated that Bursa, in addition to being an industrial city, has serious potential as a textile, culture, tourism and agriculture city. Stating that agricultural exports, which were 2017 million dollars in 184, increased to 2022 million dollars in 569, Mayor Aktaş said, “We have gone through difficult processes in the last 5 years. We have experienced pandemics, fires, floods and earthquakes, the disaster of the century. We worked hard to get through these processes with as little loss as possible. We provided serious social assistance. We did work that touched tradesmen. We delivered grocery support checks to our people without offending anyone. We were the first to implement this application in Turkey. Finally, we are distributing our 1.500 thousand social support checks of 50 TL, provided that they are spent entirely in grocery stores in Bursa. We subsidized transportation. Agriculture is also one of our priority issues. One of the main factors in the increase in the numbers is seedling support. We are trying to create the infrastructure that will support the city's economy beyond standard municipal services. "I thank you for the support you have given so far," he said.
LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF THE LAST 22 YEARS
Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan said that he was very happy to be in green Bursa, which satisfies the eyes and hearts with its unique history, geography and cultural richness.
Stating that they met with non-governmental organizations, tradesmen and business people all over the country, Minister Işıkhan explained that they exchanged ideas on social and working life issues during the meetings.
Stating that they attach importance to the opinions of all stakeholders, Işıkhan said, “We are working with the approach of 'how can we do better' under the leadership of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. We do not get tired either, saying 'He who works with love never gets tired'. As the Ministry, we are at the service of the people of Bursa. We support everyone who supports production, employment and development processes at all scales, regardless of tradesmen, farmers, civil servants or entrepreneurs. We will all see good results in the 'Employment and workforce data' to be announced next month. We are in a process where we have reached historical peaks where we have obtained the best data in employment and workforce. Leading indicators point to the highest labor force participation rates and employment rates since 2002, both for women and young people in general, in March. We also predict that we will reach the lowest unemployment rate in the last 22 years. With the incentives and supports we offered within the scope of the "job positive women's employment project" under the leadership of First Lady Erdoğan, we placed more than 15 thousand women in jobs through İş-Kur in a short period of two weeks. We attach great importance to increasing women's employment. “From now on, we will continue to implement policies that will support participation in the workforce,” she said.
“BURSA MUNICIPALITY HAS BEEN AN EXAMPLE FOR TURKEY”
Stating that they are careful to act in harmony with non-governmental organizations, Minister Işıkhan stated that they are trying to provide maximum support in line with the interests of the nation and the country. Stating that non-governmental organizations are the eyes and ears of the field, Işıkhan emphasized that every request is valuable to them. Explaining that they want to turn Bursa into a center of attraction in social and economic terms, Işıkhan said, “Bursa has shown how satisfied it is with real municipalism since 2004. Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Alinur Aktaş will win the favor of the people of Bursa again on March 31st. Our Capital Bursa deserves the best in municipality. Bursa was administered by Mayor Alinur Aktaş with a visionary local government approach in every aspect. Bursa's development-oriented municipality has set an example for Turkey. Everything Bursa needs is included in our understanding of real municipalism for the cities of the Turkish Century. Our president Alinur Aktaş has the vision that Bursa needs. Bursa has its name written in golden letters in our development history as the city where our local and national vehicle, TOGG, met with our nation, where our 65-year automobile adventure came to a happy end. "Bursa will continue to be a star that sheds light on the path of young people, women and everyone who looks to the future with hope in the real Turkey Century," he said.
GOOD NEWS TO BURSA FARMERS
Referring to the troublesome issue experienced by Bursa farmers regarding the Chamber of Agriculture records, Işıkhan said, “The issue was conveyed to us. In particular, we learned that the insurance services of approximately 5 thousand farmers affiliated with the Yenişehir Chamber of Agriculture were canceled after 2015 and that some farmers lost their retirement conditions. We started working to learn about the subject. I would like to give good news to the farmers of Bursa. In order not to cause grievance to our farmers, the records of the Provincial District Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry will be taken as basis for the continuation of the insurance of those who had service within the scope of Tarım Bağ-kur until 2015 after this date. We will ensure the continuation of the insurance of our farmers whose Chamber of Agriculture registration has been canceled if they bring their registration to the Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry. We will also solve the grievances of our farmers. "Good luck," he said.
Bursa Governor Mahmut Demirtaş said that they are proud of the existence of organizations that create value for these lands. Demirtaş explained that non-governmental organizations fulfill an important duty that keeps the roots of civilization alive and brings together the culture and value system, and reminded that non-governmental organizations support the state with all their might in every difficult time. Demirtaş thanked all the non-governmental organizations that fight tirelessly for the development of the country and work to take Turkey further, and added that the change and transformation in Turkey includes unions, business people, chambers of agriculture, cooperatives, foundations, associations and business and professions. He reminded that the chambers also made a significant contribution.
After the speeches, the program continued with the question and answer session.
