Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Vahap Seçer attended the Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD) Mersin Branch Ordinary General Assembly Gala. The program was attended by President Vahap Seçer, Former Minister of Treasury and Finance Lütfi Elvan, Mersin Governor Ali Hamza Pehlivan, MUSIAD Chairman Mahmut Asmalı, Mersin Deputies, district mayors and city protocol.
Speaking at the program where the new board of directors of MUSIAD was determined, President Seçer stated that he was happy to be together with the business world and said that Mersin is a city that grows with the business world. Stating that the main fabric in the history of the city is trade, port and world trade, and therefore there are people who come to Mersin from different parts of Turkey and the world to work, Mayor Seçer said, “No one leaves their birthplace, homeland, hometown, and takes their children to another city. . But everyone has come to Mersin. From East, Southeast, Central Anatolia, Black Sea, Aegean, Thrace... From everywhere. He was welcome, he had come to enjoyment, I am glad he came, it became a colorful city”.
“I consider myself the happiest Mayor in the world”
Stating that the population is increasing in Mersin and that he is not disturbed by this situation, Mayor Seçer pointed out that positive developments must be made for the population to increase and said, “There are positive investments. We are all aware of this and we are very happy to live in a fertile city with high energy. I consider myself the happiest Mayor in the world. I am the mayor of such an exceptional city. I believe that Mersin has not been discovered. If this is the undiscovered state of Mersin, believe me, it would be enormous.” Stating that he cares about such meetings because he came together with the business world that steers the economy, Mayor Seçer said, “You are our benefactor, because the shares deducted from the taxes collected from you come as the revenues of the municipality. The more taxes, the more local investments in Mersin, the more taxes, the more from the central government, of course, if we know what we want, the more investments will come," he said.
“This municipality is well managed. Fiscal discipline is very solid”
Expressing that he faced a heavy debt burden when he took office, President Seçer said, “But if I tell you the point we have reached now, it would not be convincing. We have a budget of approximately 15,5 billion TL, among all subsidiaries and affiliates. In order to realize this budget, there will be an income of around 13-14 TL billion. This is our prediction. So what is our debt? 3 billion 750 million TL, all inclusive. There were also small loans during this period. Now I look at the budget I came to, I look at my income at that time, I look at the debt I took over, I came there is a debt of 3 billion TL in total. What is the income of this municipality? All of the money that came to us from there in 2019 is 2 billion 250 million TL. You heard it right, there is an income of 2 billion 250 million TL. There is the 2019 budget revenue realized, you have a debt of 3 billion TL at the beginning of that year. But today, as we enter 2023, I say that I have a budget of 15,5 billion TL. My income budget to be realized is 13-14 billion liras. Don't be fooled by the fact that it is on TL basis, if you hit the dollar basis, our debt of 320 million dollars has decreased.”
Emphasizing that the Metropolitan Municipality is a municipality with good financial discipline, Mayor Seçer said, “How did this come about if we didn't print money? It was from the rations, it was from our own income. So far, I've probably told you how powerful this city is, with numbers. Because tax is going and of course give us our due; This municipality is well managed. Fiscal discipline is very solid. Look, he has a very, very solid financial discipline. You are doing so many bridges, crossroads, roads, care for the poor and strange people from this budget," he said.
President Vahap Seçer, who also thanked the former Minister of Treasury and Finance Lütfi Elvan in his speech, said, “As your President responsible for local governments, I will definitely draw a local vision for you. After a while, Mr. Minister will also take the floor and evaluate the Turkish economy. We also meet our esteemed minister from the parliament, we had a shift. From time to time, I also saw their invaluable support. I would like to thank him in your presence here. He is a person with a separate law," he said.
“Metro is a project that will add value to this city. Let's not waste time for politics"
Continuing his speech, Mayor Seçer talked about the investments they made as Mersin Metropolitan Municipality and said, “We are making such investments. Our investments are good, not bad, not enough. No matter how big a resource is transferred to the local administrator, if he finds suitable financing, if he makes smart investments without wasting, he will bring his city to incredible points. We are at this point right now. I want support for the metro, I gave the numbers. Metro is a project that will add value to this city. Let's not waste time on politics. Let's all contribute to this investment for Mersin's future," he said.
“Our common denominator is Mersin”
Reminding that the metro project was included in the investment program in 2019, Mayor Seçer said, “Mr. Minister took care of himself when he was the Chairman of the Planning and Budget Commission and made important contributions to our municipality in this regard. Why is that; because our problem is not the AK Party, CHP, MHP IYI Party issue, not the issue of other political parties. Our problem is Mersin. Our common denominator is Mersin. We want to invest more. We want to make this investment so that Mersin becomes a more livable city, a developing city, a world city, and to be recognized. It is obvious that the central government should also make significant contributions to this issue. Not done? It's done. There are some missing ones, we all know it," he said.
“We could not prepare our city for the next 10 years, 20 years. However, we have to prepare”
Underlining that these investments will add great value to the city, especially the airport, and that it is very important to make the Çeşmeli-Taşucu highway or ring road highway connection, Mayor Seçer said, “Taşucu is becoming a different logistics center. If you think about it, these are very important. There is a mistake we made, I will tell it. We could not prepare our city for the next 10 years, 20 years. However, we have to prepare. You know, there are some voices, 'Metro, is it necessary to invest that much?' like. For now, perhaps it is indeed debatable. At least, we can say, 'What if it doesn't happen, after 2-3 years', but after 5 years, we are sad to say, 'Why didn't we do it?'" he said.
Mayor Seçer said that the urban population is increasing rapidly and that is why local governments should do infrastructure works, and pointed out that municipalities cannot do this with their own resources, and that the central government should show the necessary support. President Seçer said, “This is a warning. No municipality can and cannot do this with their own budgets and resources. These are important investments. Here is the nuclear power plant. A major infrastructure problem started there. Because there was a population attack there, there was a population explosion. If these had been programmed years ago and started to be realized without laying the foundation of the ratio, we would not have these problems today.”
“We solved the zoning problem of the center that we couldn't solve for 20 years”
Adding that they have solved the zoning problem of Mersin city center that has not been resolved for years, Mayor Seçer said, “We have solved the zoning problem of the center that we could not solve for 20 years. We have solved both Mezitli, Yenişehir and Taurus Mountains. The Mediterranean is an important place, you all want it. There is no place to establish an industrial facility, there is no place to establish a logistics facility, we need energy storage areas, there is no place. We accepted all of their master plans in the Metropolitan Assembly. At this time many of the implementation plans were made. The 1/1000 units and the construction work are continuing rapidly.”
“Political chaos and tension do the most damage to the city”
Addressing the politicians at the end of his speech, President Seçer continued his words as follows: “If it's about doing politics, knowing how to do politics, I came from Ankara politics to local politics. However, I saw this; Political discourses, politically created chaos and tension do the most damage to the city. Nothing happens to the politician. Today it's me, tomorrow another friend will come. Or a deputy will serve today, another friend will come for another term. I always make these evaluations for my city with all sincerity. Please, let's keep ourselves free from political discourses and thoughts on issues that concern the interests of the local.”
MUSIAD wishes success to the new president and management of Mersin
While thanking Serdar Yıldızgörer, the former head of MUSIAD Mersin Branch, for his work, President Seçer said to the new President Mehmet Sait Kayan, “Our young friend, my bright and energetic brother Mehmet Sait Kayan, took over this task. In his presence, I wish success to all the members of the board of directors. Your president is always here, always open to cooperation. I would like to give you this note as well.” He wished success.
Speaking at the program, former Minister of Treasury and Finance Lütfi Elvan wished success to the new administration and pointed out that business people play an important role in the development of the country. Elvan said, "Mersin is a city that has made an incredible contribution to the development and development of our country with its trade, strategy, logistics."
Mersin Governor Ali Hamza Pehlivan stated that he is following the investments in the city closely and said, "We are trying to be in close contact with all our sectors."
Mahmut Asmalı, Chairman of MUSIAD, wished the general assembly and the new administration to be beneficial, and said, "MUSIAD gives added value to the Turkish economy and prioritizes the development of different cooperations abroad and will continue to work for this purpose."
Mersin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MTSO) Assembly President Hamit İzol said, “We are all for Mersin. If there is Mersin, we are there. As long as we maintain our unity and solidarity, our city and our country will rise," he said.
Mehmet Sait Kayan, the head of MUSIAD Mersin Branch, who was elected to the management, said, “We should aim for higher levels of business people to work harder, in production, employment and exports. We will try to contribute to the production power of our members during our tenure” and stated that they will carry the flag they have taken over even further.
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