Hazelnut Agricultural Sales Cooperatives Association (FISKOBIRLIK) Chairman of the Board of Directors, Lutfi Bayraktar, stated that the value of the last order they received was ₺96 million.
Lutfi Bayraktar, Chairman of the Board of Hazelnut Agricultural Sales Cooperatives Association (FISKOBIRLIK), said at the 85th Ordinary Financial General Assembly held at the Integrated Hazelnut Processing Facilities that FISKOBIRLIK is no longer an institution trying to exist in the market with state support as it used to be.
Emphasizing that the Union is now a commercial enterprise, Bayraktar said, “(The Union) is in the position of an institution that tries to do this without forgetting its social responsibility, producer partners, and that it is a cooperative enterprise.”
Bayraktar pointed out that the interest paid by FISKOBIRLIK has come to the fore in the public opinion and said, “Yes, we are paying interest, you will buy 10 thousand tons of hazelnuts, put them in the warehouse, make the final product, you will receive the money after 7 months. Where will we find the money for 10 thousand tons of hazelnuts?”
Stating that the Union has no urgent debt to pay, Bayraktar explained that there may always be some problems in trade.
Bayraktar stated that EFIT Inc. works in three shifts and said:
“The value of the last order we received is ₺96 million. We are working, friends. We have produced some products, put them out there and are working. If our only concern was trade, this would be easy. We also have the duty to look after and protect the producers. Therefore, we turn our face to there, so it is not very easy to run these businesses.”
Stating that they have built the largest solar power plant (SPP) in Sebinkarahisar, with a production capacity of 5 megawatts, the construction of which has been completed in the Eastern Black Sea Region, Bayraktar said that the power plant is planned to become operational next month.
Pointing out that FISKOBIRLIK’s monthly electricity consumption is ₺3 million, Bayraktar said, “SPP’s monthly income is around ₺5-6 million. In other words, our electricity will be free, and we will have the chance to sell the electricity we produce in addition to the amount we use. Therefore, there will be an annual income of ₺60 million. The cost of the power plant reached ₺110 million.”
Bayraktar underlined that they expect support from the IPARD program of the Agriculture and Rural Development Support Institution for the new facility project with an investment value of $17 million, planned to be built in Giresun 2nd Organized Industrial Zone.
Bayraktar added that they are planning to put out a tender for the hotel and office style project prepared for the FISKOBIRLIK land in the city center.
Eastern Black Sea Project Regional Development Administration President Hakan Gultekin, Giresun Tradesmen Chambers Union President Ali Kara, political party representatives, delegates and the union’s partner producers attended the general assembly.
Source: Patronlardunyasi / Prepared by Irem Yildiz