The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli and the President of The Union Of Chambers And Commodity Exchanges Turkey (TOBB) Rıfat Hisarcıklıoğlu were signed a Protocol on "IPARD Project Cooperation and Education" for the efficient use of IPARD grants prepared by Agriculture and Rural Development Support Agency (TKDK).
Speaking at the signing ceremony held in Ankara, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli stated that investors could prepare their projects free of charge within the TOBB's chambers and exchanges in 42 cities in which the European Union (EU) Pre-Accession Assistance-Rural Development Program (IPARD) was implemented and said "No fees will be charged by the rooms and exchanges during the preparation process."
Minister Pakdemirli, said that they provide grant, support and incentives to the citizens, in the meantime they build R & D teams. On the other said they have developed projects "In this context, we can be a Ministry of Information and Technology can be clearly expressed." he said.
Pakdemirli explained that IPARD, the EU's rural development grants, is an important and effective part of the EU process and said that they are cooperating with TOBB for more effective use of IPARD grants granted by the TKDK.
Pakdemirli emphasized that the protocol that will provide an important convenience and alternative to the investor means that projects under IPARD can now be prepared free of charge, and he continued:
"Writing a project or preparing a project is a project in itself. The investors who wish to apply to IPARD are preparing their projects and presenting them to the TKDK. If the project is approved and accepted, it will cover the cost of the consultancy that he will receive a grant within consultancy. However, if his project is not accepted, his spending on consulting services goes out of his pocket.
Normally the applicant has paid the fee of 5-40 thousand liras according to the investment as a project consultancy service fee. Thanks to this protocol, investors will be able to prepare their projects free of charge in the 42 provinces in which IPARD is implemented, through the chambers and exchanges within TOBB. No fee will be charged by the chambers and exchanges during the project preparation process.
"TRAINING TO THE ROOMS AND THE COMMODITIES"
Pakdemirli, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, pointed out that when the project was accepted, investors would pay the consultancy support they will receive from the TKDK to the room and stock exchange that prepared the project, and said that the project will not be paid if the TKDK cannot fall within the scope of support during the evaluation process.
Pakdemirli stated that the ARDSI will provide training to the chambers and exchanges in the preparation of the Project and "This protocol will cover the investments in all sectors of IPARD. These enterprises, supported under IPARD, will be able to with high quality, competitive and sustainable projects in rural, modern, high technology use, our European Union standards will increase".
Minister Pakdemirli said that they stand by every entrepreneur investing, creating new jobs, added value to the country "TKDK, 16 different sub-sectors continue to support investments. Depending on the sector, it provides grants to investments between 40% and 70%. Within the scope of the IPARD program, we have provided a total of 14 thousand 500 projects and 3.8 billion TL grant support in the last 7 years. Thanks to these grants, 10 billion pounds of investment was made in our rural areas, 60 thousand new jobs were created."
Minister Bekir Pakdemirli, reminded that tax exemption in IPARD investments, contributed to the development of many sectors with the effect of these grants, said that machinery and equipment were supplied locally and construction works were provided from local suppliers.
POSITIVE DISCRIMINATION TO THE WOMEN AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE
Minister Pakdemirli pointed out that they have been positively discriminating against women and young people under IPARD.
"We give our women an extra score in their projects and give priority to the ranking. We are giving 5% additional grants to young investors under the age of 40. We continue to support rural development with national resources as well as national support to the rural development." With the support of the Rural Development Investments Program, we will continue to support rural development in 39 provinces not including IPARD. We will continue to contribute to the increase of investments in the country and the growth of our country.
After the speeches, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli and TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu signed a protocol that will enable the investors to prepare a free project for the support provided by the TKDK within IPARD.