SBF Encounters 53
Our guest for the 53rd SBF Meetings was the Deputy General Manager of Tradesmen, Craftsmen and Cooperatives of the Ministry of Commerce Ekrem Alper Bozkurt and he gave a speech under the title of "Ahilik and Cooperatives". He stated that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has held a commemoration and celebration in every 2 years and 31 commemorations and celebrations were held in our country so far. He emphasized that Ahi Evran's birth was celebrated as the 850th anniversary of the 2021 Commemoration and Celebration ceremonies. With the circular of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey dated 21.02.2021 and decree of 31401, year 2021 is going to be celebrated as the Year of Ahî Evran and that commemoration programs are going to be carried out throughout various platforms in Turkey. Mr. Bozkurt started his speech with the life story of Ahi Evran. After Ahi Evran's childhood and youth, he talked about the Ahi tradition. He pointed out that Ahilik gave direction to economic, social and political life, contributed to the formation of many institutions and has an important place in cultural interaction in Turkish history. He discussed how the Ahi was transformed into the Lonca and then the Gedik institutions during the Ottoman Empire. Mr. Bozkurt briefly mentioned the institution of Cooperatives in the second part of his speech. He explained how cooperatives emerged in the historical process and in what direction it has evolved in today's modern world. He also mentioned that, in terms of Turkish history, the roots of Cooperatives in commercial, economic, social and cultural life are based on Ahilik and Lonca organization and it is not a new concept for today's Turkey. Mr. Bozkurt concluded his speech by mentioning the activities of the Ministry of Commerce regarding Ahilik and Cooperatives. We would like to thank Mr. Ekrem Alper Bozkurt and our moderator, head of AYBU Economics department Prof. Dr. Erdal Tanas Karagöl for their participation in the 53rd AYBU SBF Meetings.
