NEW PROJECTS TO BE IMPLEMENTED AT ETO

During the July regular assembly meeting, ETO President Metin Güler shared evaluations regarding the economy and the fight against the pandemic, announcing the chamber's new projects aimed at members involved in women's textiles and bridal manufacturing, as well as efforts in e-commerce, innovation, and software. He also revealed plans to offer the Eskişehir Mediation Center to members.

At the ETO Service Building, Güler discussed his insights on the economy with assembly members after a long hiatus. He noted that it has been approximately a year and a half since the pandemic began, during which ETO has made significant efforts to prevent the spread of the virus in workplaces. These efforts included organizing informational activities, launching PCR test centers, and distributing over 100,000 masks free of charge.

Everyone Must Act Responsibly in the Fight Against the Pandemic

Güler highlighted that ETO has recently conducted vaccination programs in cooperation with the Eskişehir Provincial Health Directorate. He stated, “We have fulfilled our responsibilities to combat the pandemic and will continue to do so. We expect the same sensitivity from every citizen. We have two tools to prevent the spread: vaccination and masks. We must adhere to all precautions. To avoid incurring heavier costs, everyone must comply with these measures because neither our traders, our shopkeepers, nor our economy can withstand another lockdown. Therefore, it is crucial for everyone to act responsibly.”

Rising Energy Costs Hinder Inflation Control

Güler shared his views on the economy, pointing out that rising energy costs are placing a burden on producers. He noted that due to the pandemic, costs have risen across nearly every sector, from construction to food to metals and mining. “However, another issue causing distress for us—our members, traders, and industrialists—is the increasing energy costs. At the beginning of the month, there was a 20% increase in natural gas prices for the industrial group and a 20.2% increase for electricity production plants. Unfortunately, these energy costs are making trade and industry even more challenging. Our field team visiting members has received numerous complaints about this. Moreover, these increases are unfortunately obstructing our fight against inflation,” he added.

Projects Will Contribute to Eskişehir and the Economy

Güler emphasized that ETO continues to produce projects that contribute to the city’s economy, planning to designate the 2021-2022 period as a time for projects. He mentioned that they are counting down to implement a significant project aimed at members involved in women's textiles and bridal manufacturing, noting that ETO is the only chamber of commerce in Turkey receiving support in this field this year. Güler also mentioned that ETO has a project aimed at enhancing e-commerce, and that efforts related to Eskişehir Innovation, Software, and R&D Clustering are ongoing. He announced the upcoming establishment of the Eskişehir Mediation Center for members and highlighted that ETO METSEM's activities in the mining sector are gaining momentum. Güler concluded by stating that events and organizations at the Eskişehir Fair and Congress Center will continue to increase.