Nazilli Chamber of Commerce Celebrated Its 100th Anniversary with a Magnificent Ceremony
Nazilli Chamber of Commerce Celebrated Its 100th Anniversary with a Magnificent Ceremony
The ceremony was attended by Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Credit Guarantee Fund President Erdoğan Özegen, Nazilli District Governor Huriye Küpeli Kan, protocol members, presidents and board members of chambers and commodity exchanges from across the Aegean Region, as well as representatives of companies and businesses registered with the Nazilli Chamber of Commerce (NTO).
Before the ceremony, geographically indicated local products such as snow halva, Nazilli pide, Karacasu keşkeği, Bozdoğan walnut sausage, Sultanhisar strawberries, and many other regional specialties were offered to guests in the Chamber’s open service area, accompanied by marches performed by the Mehter band.
The event began with the opening ceremony of the newly constructed additional service building, where the Gold Meeting Hall was officially named after M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, followed by the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The main celebration program took place in the 500-seat conference hall of the Nazilli Chamber of Commerce, a unique facility in the region, and started with opening speeches. Plaques were then presented to companies providing the highest levels of employment and to members who have maintained their Chamber registrations for more than 50 years.
Awards in the employment category were presented to companies including Uğur Cooling Machines, Akkim Chemistry, Kral Fig Dried Fruits, Çağdaş Glass Industry, Deniz Textile, Erkin Hydraulics, Gürbüz Foreign Trade, and several others.
Plaques for members with more than 50 years of uninterrupted Chamber membership were awarded to institutions and companies such as Ziraat Bankası Nazilli Branch, İş Bankası Nazilli Branch, Halkbank Nazilli Branch, VakıfBank Nazilli Branch, Yapı Kredi Bankası Nazilli Branch, Akbank Nazilli Branch, Şekerbank Nazilli Branch, various cooperatives, and long-established local businesses.
The plaques were presented by M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Huriye Küpeli Kan, and Nuri Arslan.
Additionally, appreciation plaques were awarded to Nazilli Bakers and Pastry Makers Chamber President Mahmut Tekin, Hilmi Duruoğlu of Duruoğlu Kısmet Ltd., and Karacasu Aphrodisias Potters Cooperative President Erol Alaca for their contributions to promoting geographically indicated regional products.
A special plaque of appreciation was also presented, on behalf of all press members, to Aydın Metropolitan Journalists Association and Nazilli Journalists Association President Ümit Özmen for their support in promoting the Chamber’s activities and projects to wider audiences.
M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated:
“The Nazilli Chamber of Commerce has become a five-star chamber in the region through its remarkable service initiatives and development. I congratulate Chairman Nuri Arslan, all board members, and the Chamber staff. The work carried out over the past 15 years deserves great appreciation.”
In his speech, Hisarcıklıoğlu congratulated the Chamber on its 100th anniversary and praised the organization of the event. He noted that Nuri Arslan continuously brings new investment projects and proposals to Ankara and emphasized the importance of the Chamber’s geographical indication projects in adding value to regional products.
He also stated that establishing the Nazilli 2nd Organized Industrial Zone is no longer merely a request but a necessity, and expressed TOBB’s readiness to support the restoration and redevelopment of the historic Sümerbank Factory area. Furthermore, he announced plans to establish a new vocational school in Nazilli, emphasizing the critical importance of vocational education for Türkiye’s future.
Nuri Arslan, Chairman of the Nazilli Chamber of Commerce, stated:
“What we have accomplished so far is the guarantee of our future projects.”
Arslan emphasized that since 1924, the Chamber has continued to serve as a leader of ideas and projects in the region. He described the Chamber not only as a professional organization but also as the beating heart of the city’s economy, industry, tradesmen, and merchants for the past century.
Speaking about the historic Nazilli Sümerbank Textile Factory, Arslan said the area holds tremendous potential for the region’s future needs. He stressed that preserving the site merely as a memory of the past would be unacceptable and explained their vision of transforming it into a modern attraction center while remaining faithful to its historical spirit.
Arslan also highlighted the financing difficulties faced by small and medium-sized enterprises and called for Chamber members to benefit from financing systems similar to the Halkbank-backed tradesmen credit programs.
He further emphasized that the establishment of the Nazilli 2nd Organized Industrial Zone has become an unavoidable necessity for attracting new investments, increasing employment, and expanding high value-added production.
Discussing the “Nazilli Long Life Village” project, Arslan stated that the region — famous for its fertile lands and healthy lifestyle — has the potential to become a globally recognized healthy living and tourism destination through eco-tourism and local agricultural branding.
Finally, Arslan underlined the importance of vocational and technical education in raising future entrepreneurs and business leaders. He stressed that the number and quality of vocational schools should be increased and suggested additional incentives to encourage young people to pursue vocational education.
The ceremony concluded with a group photo session.
