Ahmet Şekerli, a member of the MÜSİAD Board of Directors and Chairman of the Local Executive Board, said, "Last year, we distributed 98,000 food parcels, and this year, our goal is to exceed 100,000. MÜSİAD is a community comprised not only of businesspeople but also of people of heart."

Ahmet Şekerli, a member of the Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MÜSİAD) Board of Directors and Chairman of the Local Executive Board, stated that they are rapidly continuing their food aid distribution for Ramadan, saying, "Last year, we distributed 98,000 food parcels, and this year, our goal is to exceed 100,000. MÜSİAD is a community comprised not only of businesspeople but also of people of heart."

Şekerli provided information about MÜSİAD's aid efforts for those in need during Ramadan.

Şekerli explained that they have continued their aid preparations, which began before Ramadan, until the holiday, adding, "MÜSİAD has a wide network of organizations both domestically and internationally." All our members who wanted to support delivered their aid before Ramadan. We made preparations and carried out our work in every province of Türkiye. As of today, we have distributed over 70,000 food parcels. We are distributing these primarily through our own organization,” he said.

Şekerli stated that they will increase their efforts as the holiday approaches, saying, “We hope this number of 70,000 will increase as the holiday approaches. Last year, we distributed 98,000 food parcels, and this year our goal is to exceed 100,000. We trust our organization, caring people who will reach those in need, because MÜSİAD is a community comprised not only of business professionals but also of people of heart.”

“Credit books are being purchased to help those in need”

Şekerli stated that they are also thinking of sector workers who are experiencing difficulties due to the full lockdown, saying:

“We have primarily strived to carry out distributions through our colleagues working in the service and retail sectors, whose workplaces remain closed.” We are carrying out these distributions together with our Young MÜSİAD members and the Vefa Social Support Group, affiliated with the provincial governorates. As of the 21st day of Ramadan, we have food convoys departing for 13 provinces in the east. Our organization is working in provinces with lower income levels. We sent flour to Azaz, Syria, before Ramadan, and God willing, on Laylat al-Qadr, we will again distribute food in Azaz, where we have a MÜSİAD branch, before the holiday.

Şekerli, reminding that there are people in need in many parts of Istanbul, said, "We reached them through our organization network. One of our traditions, which we have postponed for the last 10 days, is the purchase of credit (zimem) books. This was a tradition that had been forgotten. MÜSİAD highlighted this in previous years and set an example across our country. Since then, many other organizations have started doing the same."

Şekerli, noting that the aid reaches many people, said, "The important thing about this tradition is that the debtor doesn't know who paid the debt. The payer doesn't know whose debt they're paying. It's a wonderful feeling. We've created an exhibition at MÜSİAD of purchased credit ledgers. One of them was even purchased in Jerusalem."

"Aid is delivered abroad through on-site purchasing"

Şekerli noted that they organize iftar programs for those in need abroad, saying, "Due to the pandemic, there are lockdowns in some countries. Therefore, in places where we couldn't hold iftar programs, we were able to conduct on-site purchasing. Since we planned the entire program to host iftar there, we didn't send food from there, but if there were any closures, we immediately distributed food through on-site purchasing."

Şekerli also noted that MÜSİAD has partner organizations abroad, reaching out to all corners of the world through numerous foundations, associations, and state-owned institutions.