The Minister of Justice, Yılmaz Tunç, announced the number of concordats year by year.

Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç, who met with the business community in Denizli, announced the number of concordats both nationwide in Turkey and specifically in Denizli. Minister Tunç, who also disclosed the yearly concordat numbers, stated, “As of now in 2024, out of 585 files opened, 335 have been rejected, and 44 have been accepted. The number of accepted concordats in Turkey for 2024 is 44, but it is perceived as if thousands of concordats have been accepted. In Denizli, 25 files have been opened, and 4 have been accepted.”

During a series of visits in Denizli, Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç met with the business community at the Denizli Exporters Association (DENİB) building. In the opening speech of the program, Hüseyin Memişoğlu, the period spokesperson of the Denizli Industrialists, Merchants, and Businesspeople Platform and President of DENİB, emphasized, “Denizli is not only an important industrial, export, and trade center but also a city that adds value as a tourism city, especially with the Pamukkale Travertines and thermal springs. Denizli stands out in exports, ranking 9th in Turkey and contributing strongly to the national economy by exporting to 185 countries in 25 different sectors with nearly 3,000 product groups. We thank the Minister again for the steps taken towards ensuring the integrity of law and economy through judicial reforms that consider the rights of all sectors, especially with our removal from the Gray List in 2021, and we hope for a productive consultative meeting for all participants,” he stated.

President Memişoğlu also addressed the need to increase export and tourism capacity, mentioning the opening of the İzmir-Antalya highway, the connection of the İzmir-Ankara high-speed train line to Denizli, the need for a small airport terminal, air transport with small planes, and the reduction of the Pamukkale water flow.

“It is perceived that thousands of concordats have been accepted”

Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç stated that law and justice should go hand in hand and mentioned their goal to create a new constitution in the 28th term of parliament. Highlighting the importance of the new constitution, Minister Tunç remarked, “It will contribute to our economy and accelerate Turkey’s development and growth efforts.” Responding to criticisms regarding different decisions in the files at the Republic Chief Prosecutor’s Offices related to bringing export proceeds into the country, Minister Tunç expressed that they would work to address the grievances on this issue. Addressing the increased number of concordats following the Covid-19 pandemic, Justice Minister Tunç noted the public perception around this matter. He stated that in meetings with Trade Minister Ömer Bolat, they received numerous complaints regarding concordats, which have been increasing. “We have extracted the existing figures year by year. When we looked at the numbers, we saw it was not as perceived. In 2018, there were 1,712 concordat records opened. 555 were rejected, and 18 were accepted. In 2019, 1,217 were opened. 1,013 were rejected, and 110 were accepted. In 2021, 875 were opened, with 686 rejected and 171 accepted. In 2022, 686 files were opened, of which 573 were rejected and 140 accepted. In 2023, 516 were opened. If you look at the news, it says 1,516. Out of these 516 requests, 381 were rejected, and 95 were accepted. So far in 2024, 585 files have been opened, with 335 rejected and 44 accepted. The number of accepted concordats in Turkey for 2024 is 44, but it is perceived as if thousands of concordats have been accepted. In Denizli, 25 files have been opened, and 4 have been accepted. I wish none of our companies had to declare concordat, but such things can happen to our companies.”