
Mr. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu
President
Mr. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu is the President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), the country’s largest business organization, representing over 2 million companies through 367 chambers and exchanges. He holds a degree in Economics and Management from Gazi University in Ankara. Beginning his career in the family business, he now chairs the Eskihisar Group of Companies, which operates across construction, trade, investments, land development, food, and automotive sectors.
Elected TOBB President in 2001 after a brief term as Vice President, Hisarcıklıoğlu has since been re-elected in every term—2002, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2018, and 2023—highlighting his enduring leadership in the Turkish business world. He also serves in major national institutions, including as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Chairman of the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV), and board member of the Turkey Wealth Fund. He led Türkiye’s national electric vehicle project, TOGG, from 2018 to 2024.
Internationally, Hisarcıklıoğlu holds numerous influential positions. He is the President of the World Chambers Federation (WCF) and Vice President of EUROCHAMBRES, ICCD, and CACCI. He also serves on the board of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and co-chairs several regional cooperation forums, including the Turkish-African Chamber, Turkish-Arab Chamber, and EU–Turkey Joint Consultative Committee, playing a key role in fostering global economic partnerships.
Hisarcıklıoğlu has been honored with numerous international medals and awards from countries such as Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Azerbaijan, recognizing his contributions to business, diplomacy, and international cooperation. He has received honorary doctorates from over a dozen universities and been awarded honorary citizenships by several municipalities across Türkiye for his contributions to regional development and entrepreneurship.




