Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu is the current President of The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB).
He earned his B.A. degree in Economics and Management from Gazi University in Ankara. After completing his undergraduate degree, his career started in family business and currently he is the Chairman of Eskihisar Group of Companies, which operates in the fields of construction, construction materials, export and import, investments, land development, food industry and automotive sector.
After a one year vice-presidency period at The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) , the largest non-profit business organization in Turkey, covering 365 Chambers and Commodity Exchanges and representing 1.5 million companies, Hisarcıklıoğlu was elected as the President of TOBB in 2001 and was re-elected respectively in 2002, 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2018.
Hisarcıklıoğlu has received the Legion of Honour by the French Republic, Gold Medal of Merit by the Austrian Republic, the ‘Commendatore’ from the Italian Republic, Spanish Order of Civil Merit with degree of Encomienda, the Medal of Inspiration from Mongolia, Medal for Development of Friendship and Cooperation from Kazakhstan and the Mediterranean Leadership Award by the John Hopkins University, USA.
Hisarcıklıoğlu was awarded with the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber Gold Medal, Medal of Honor from the Assembly of French Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Honorary Membership Award from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania, Medal of Honor by Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Honor Award from the Pakistan Federation of Chambers and Commerce, Medal of Honor by Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Gratitude Award from the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Hisarciklıoğlu holds honorary doctorate degrees from Kyrgyzstan-Turkey Manas University, Karadeniz Technical University, Izmir University of Economics, Niğde University, Bayburt University, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Iskenderun Technical University, Kayseri Erciyes University, Osmaniye Korkut Ata University, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University and Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University in Turkey.
Hisarcıklıoğlu has received the Honorary Townsman Awards, by Edirne, Çankırı, Kırşehir, Niğde, Kırıkkale, Kütahya Hisarcık and Malatya Battalgazi municipalities