TİM and Exporters' Assemblies Support Aid Campaign

Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) announced that it donated TRY 10 million to the "Unity Brings İzmir Back" relief campaign launched by the İzmir business community following the İzmir earthquake, in which the Aegean Exporters Union is involved. TİM Chairman İsmail Gülle said, "What makes us strong is our unity and spirit of solidarity. When we are united, no disaster, no pandemic, no economic pressure can stop 'Turkey Rising Through Exports'. As TİM and our Exporters Unions, we will contribute to this meaningful project which envisions the construction of housing, schools and social facilities." Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), the single umbrella organization of 95,000 exporters in Turkey, has mobilized to heal the wounds of İzmir through 61 exporters unions across Turkey. In this context, TİM donated TRY 10 million to the "Unity Brings İzmir Back" campaign launched by the İzmir business community. The campaign aims to provide homeownership to the families of those who lost their lives in the earthquake.

"We Stand by İzmir with Our 61 Unions"

TİM Chairman İsmail Gülle, who held a press conference at the Aegean Exporters Unions, representing the export family of over 95,000, stated that they stand by İzmir during its difficult time, saying, "As the productive face of our country, we could not stand aside and watch this disaster from our corner without lending our full support to our İzmir during this challenging period. Although the lives lost cannot return, we want to be a source of comfort to our brothers and sisters who have been displaced from their homes. Just as we sent truckloads of aid to the region during Operation Olive Branch, saying 'Our Unions, Our Unity,' today we stand beside our earthquake-affected families with the same spirit of unity and solidarity." Gülle stated that the Exporters Union Chairmen provided unconditional support to this meaningful project at every stage, saying, "The project we are supporting will be implemented on land allocated by our Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry; in partnership with our Aegean Exporters Unions, İzmir Chamber of Commerce, Aegean Region Chamber of Industry and İzmir Commodity Exchange. Within the scope of the project, it is planned to construct İzmir Earthquake Housing consisting of a school and social facility. As TİM and our Exporters Unions, we will contribute TRY 10 million to this meaningful project." Gülle continued as follows: "Perhaps our wounds will not heal immediately, but in order to heal the wounds of the earthquake victims, as the export family, with our 61 Exporters Unions and 13 General Secretariats; we will always be here for a strong İzmir and a strong Turkey. What makes us strong is our unity and spirit of solidarity. When we are united, no disaster, no pandemic, no economic pressure can stop 'Turkey Rising Through Exports.' The pain of our city, which is the heart of our country's economy and exports, is our pain. We know that our beloved İzmir will emerge from this disaster strengthened." [caption id="attachment_111761" align="aligncenter"] TİM Chairman İsmail Gülle[/caption]

"The Campaign Receives Strong Interest from Around the World"

Aegean Exporters Unions Coordinator Chairman Jak Eskinazi said, "On 5 November 2020, together with our Aegean Exporters Unions, İzmir Chamber of Commerce, Aegean Region Chamber of Industry, İzmir Commodity Exchange, Maritime Commerce Chamber İzmir Branch, İzmir Craftsmen and Artisans Chambers Union, ESİAD, EGİAD and İZSİAD, we launched a relief campaign called 'Unity Brings İzmir Back.' Our goal is to heal İzmir's wounds as soon as possible. The campaign is receiving strong interest from around the world. We set out with a target of raising TRY 50 million. When we saw the interest shown in our campaign in the first 2 days, we foresee that we will exceed this target. When we exceed our target in our campaign, the scope of aid we will provide will also increase. Our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan provided strong support to our project from the very beginning. He allocated the land where we will build the houses to us free of charge. Under the leadership of our Turkish Exporters Assembly, the umbrella organization of 95,000 exporters across Turkey, and our Aegean Exporters Unions, we are participating strongly in the relief campaign with our 61 exporters unions across Turkey. I invite our Aegean Exporters Unions members and all our citizens to participate in the relief campaign and become moral partners in an exemplary project."