19.01.2026 11:41
While the statements of İTO President Şekib Avdagiç, who announced the foreign shopping restriction as a "good news," are being discussed, the millions of lira expenditure items in İTO's 2025 budget, unanswered questions, and lack of transparency have become the focus of criticism.
The announcement by the President of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO), Şekib Avdagiç, regarding the removal of customs exemption for purchases made from abroad up to 30 euros was met with public backlash, while attention turned to ITO's own budget and expenditure items. As the effects of Avdagiç's statement aimed at "protecting local merchants" continue, the debate over the transparency of the millions of lira expenditures of the institution he manages has flared up.
STRIKING CONTRADICTION
With over 800,000 members, ITO is one of the largest chambers of commerce in the world, and criticisms have resurfaced regarding the public's access to its membership fee revenues, budget, and detailed income-expenditure tables. While it was emphasized that it is practically impossible to access this information, which is officially stated to be "public," the contradiction between the statements made with the "local tradesman" narrative and the internal expenditures of the institution drew attention.
QUESTIONS REMAIN UNANSWERED IN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING
During the extraordinary general assembly meeting held on December 26, some members took the floor to ask for details of the line-by-line expenditures in the budget. However, it was stated that many questions remained unanswered during the meeting.
MILLION-LIRA EXPENDITURE ITEMS
According to the information raised in the meeting, ITO's budget for 2025 includes an expenditure of 30 million 598 thousand lira under the "gifts" heading. No explanation was provided regarding who these gifts were purchased for. In the overseas travel expenses, the item "other persons travel and accommodation" particularly stood out. It was reported that 8 million lira was spent on accommodation and 9 million lira on plane tickets in this item, which does not specify who it covers other than ITO executives and members.
CONSULTING AND SOFTWARE EXPENDITURES
It was stated that ITO spent 4 million 64 thousand lira for the panels and seminars it organized in 2025, while it paid 21 million 23 thousand lira for consulting services. No information was shared regarding which individuals or firms provided the consulting services.
The total cost of the item titled "information development" was recorded as 126 million 584 thousand lira, of which 110 million lira was allocated for software and 14 million lira for software maintenance. It remains unclear whether software is purchased every year or the scope of these expenditures.
"COMMODIFICATION OF INFORMATION" AND OTHER ITEMS
Under the heading "commodification of information," there is an expenditure of 90 million 899 thousand lira, but no explanation was provided regarding what kind of income this item generates.
The "waiters" item in the budget also sparked debate. It was reported that 12 million 121 thousand lira was spent under this heading, but it was not clarified how and through whom this service was obtained.
The expenditure of 43 million 690 thousand lira made under the name "public opinion formation" was not specified whether it covered advertising, campaigns, or another type of work.
RESOURCES TRANSFERRED TO THE FOUNDATION
It was also shared in the details of the meeting that 90 million 825 thousand lira was transferred to the Tourism Development and Education Foundation (TUGEV) from the ITO budget last year.