Minister of Trade Ruhsar Pekcan stated that the works are continuing to provide grant support for invoice and rent payments to the tradesmen who are in trouble, and said that they also met with global companies within the scope of social responsibility projects.
Good news came from Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan to shopkeepers who had a difficult time in the pandemic process. Minister Pekcan announced that negotiations are continuing with the Ministry of Treasury and Finance to provide grants to tradesmen in return for rent, electricity, natural gas, and water payments. Minister Pekcan also stated that they are in contact with global companies and that support will be provided within the scope of social responsibility projects.
Time extension for credit payments will be applied
Minister Pekcan stated that the negotiations are continuing with the Ministry of Treasury and Finance for the grant payment assistance for bills and rent to the tradesmen:
‘’ The revenue loss made to Halkbank between 1 January-31 October was reported as ₺ 2.6 billion due to delay of interest-cut loans made available to tradesmen by the Treasury. ₺ 3 billion of Nefes Loan from the resource created by depositing stock market deposits to banks was given to 50 thousand companies as a low interest loan opportunity.’’
Stating that they are aware of the tradesmen’s victimization, Minister Pekcan said:
‘’We have started a new study that we will be announced soon. As the Ministry, we have contacted global companies. We have a study on what kind of support we can provide to tradesmen within the scope of social responsibility projects.’’
Minister Pekcan, noted that ₺ 13 million 648 thousand 399 of grant support was given to 143 projects of 133 cooperatives, within the scope of KOOP-DES. Pekcan said:
‘’We achieved this figure in 4 months. We continue this project; we want to increase it in 2021.’’
There is a decrease in gold imports
Stating that Turkey experienced an increase in demand for gold due to the increasing uncertainty in the global economy, Pekcan said:
‘’ As of the end of October, $ 21.5 billion dollars of gold was imported. An increase of 27.3 percent was experienced in the January-October period compared to the same period of 2019. Gold import figures also increased on both quantity and value basis. After August 2020, our gold imports decreased relatively compared to the previous months. In October, our gold imports decreased by 40 percent compared to September.’’
Local production
Minister of Trade Pekcan stated that the work on the legal amendment to increase the place of geographically marked products and local products on the market shelves has been completed.
Pekcan noted that they also plan to increase the 1 percent shelf space allocated to geographically indicated products in retail businesses to 5 times more.
source: haberler.com / translated by Melisa Karayusufoglu