Nazilli Chamber of Commerce Continues Its 2026 Member Meeting Series with an Event in Kuyucak

The Nazilli Chamber of Commerce (NTO) continued its 2026 Member Meeting Series with an event held in the Kuyucak district, bringing together Chamber members, local officials, and representatives of the business community to discuss regional development priorities and member expectations.

The meeting was attended by Kuyucak District Gendarmerie Commander İdris Alanbay, Halkbank Kuyucak Branch Manager Hüseyin Akoğlu, and members of the Nazilli Chamber of Commerce. The guests were welcomed by Chairman of the Board Nuri Arslan and members of the NTO Board of Directors.

During the meeting, participants watched a presentation highlighting the Chamber’s activities, strategic projects, ongoing initiatives, and advocacy efforts carried out in response to the needs and requests of its members. The presentation emphasized that the Nazilli Chamber of Commerce is a member-oriented institution, whose activities extend well beyond its statutory responsibilities to include economic and social initiatives designed according to members’ expectations.

“We Are Here to Listen to Our Members and Share Our Projects”

In his opening remarks, Chairman Nuri Arslan stated:

“Our primary objective is to hear your expectations and understand your challenges firsthand. We work continuously to find solutions to the issues raised by our members. Thanks to our persistent efforts since 2013, we have brought many important matters affecting our business community to the attention of the relevant authorities and have successfully contributed to resolving a number of them.”

The Chamber Is Wherever Its Members Do Business

Mr. Arslan emphasized that the Chamber serves not only the city of Nazilli but also six surrounding districts within its jurisdiction.

“Regardless of distance or location, we strive to provide equal services to every member. Our goal is to understand the needs of our businesses, record their requests, and develop projects that will increase the prosperity and economic strength of our entire region.”

Equal Financing Opportunities for Chamber Members

Chairman Arslan reiterated the Chamber’s long-standing call for a financing mechanism comparable to the Artisan Credit Guarantee Loan Program to be made available to businesses registered with chambers of commerce.

He explained that while low-interest loans funded through public resources and administered by Halkbank are currently available only to members of artisans’ chambers, businesses of the same size operating in identical sectors but registered with chambers of commerce are excluded from these opportunities.

“We continue our efforts to secure either legislative amendments or a new financing mechanism that will provide equal access to affordable credit for Chamber members under the same conditions.”

Preparing the Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow

Addressing another major challenge, Mr. Arslan highlighted the growing shortage of qualified technical personnel.

“Türkiye cannot achieve sustainable growth without production. We must continue to work, manufacture, and export. Every stage of production requires skilled young people who have received technical and vocational education.

If we fail to strengthen vocational education and increase the number of technical high schools, our manufacturing sector will face even greater challenges in the future.”

He also emphasized the importance of changing public perceptions regarding vocational education.

“We must eliminate the misconception that students attending vocational schools will only become apprentices. No one can become a master—or eventually a successful business owner—without first learning a profession.

Today, many of the entrepreneurs who own manufacturing and exporting companies throughout our region are graduates of vocational schools. The business leaders of tomorrow will come from today’s technical and vocational education system.”

Expanding Industrial and Commercial Investment Areas

Chairman Arslan stressed the urgent need for additional industrial and commercial land to support investment.

“Today, we are unable to allocate suitable land to entrepreneurs who are ready to invest with their own resources. Local governments also have an important role to play in this process. Following the local elections, we shared this concern with our mayors.

This is not an issue that the Chamber of Commerce can solve alone. Comprehensive urban planning is required to create new commercial and industrial zones alongside residential development.”

Mr. Arslan reaffirmed the Chamber’s strong support for the Nazilli Second Organized Industrial Zone (Nazilli 2nd OIZ) project.

“The planned industrial zone in the Toygar–Esenköy area is not only important for Nazilli but for the economic development of the entire region. The proposed location offers highly suitable geological conditions for industrial investment.

Unfortunately, unfounded prejudices have slowed progress before the project has even begun. We believe the Chamber of Commerce should always be consulted regarding major regional investment projects. We remain in close dialogue with our Members of Parliament and are confident that, with the support of our members, we will achieve this goal.”

Revitalizing the Historic Sümerbank Factory

Chairman Arslan also underlined the importance of restoring the historic Nazilli Sümerbank Textile Factory, inaugurated by Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1937 and recognized as one of Türkiye’s first industrial facilities.

He explained that although the factory site was allocated to Aydın Adnan Menderes University in 2003 to serve as an educational campus, only a small portion has been utilized while much of the complex has remained idle.

The Chamber proposes allocating approximately 63,000 square meters of the unused site to develop:

A modern exhibition and fair center,
The Sümer Industrial Museum,
A textile production facility dedicated to reviving the historic Nazilli Printed Cotton Fabric (Nazilli Basması),
Sales and exhibition areas for geographically indicated regional products,
And several additional projects that would stimulate regional economic development.

“We firmly believe that strong cooperation among public institutions is essential to bringing the Sümerbank Factory back into productive use. This remains one of the most significant development projects for the future of our region.”

Member Needs Will Continue to Guide Chamber Services

Concluding his remarks, Chairman Arslan stated:

“We plan every activity of our Chamber according to the needs and expectations of our members. At every meeting with TOBB, the relevant ministries, and other institutions in Ankara, I make it a priority to communicate the concerns of our business community.

These meetings allow us to meet our members face to face, exchange ideas, understand their expectations, and continuously improve our services.

Please do not hesitate to share your concerns with the Chamber. Within the limits of our authority and resources, we will continue working to find practical solutions.

Thank you all for your participation.”

Following the speeches, Chamber members expressed their appreciation to the Board of Directors for organizing the meeting and for its continued efforts to resolve the challenges faced by the business community. The event concluded with a commemorative group photograph.