Uzunkopru Chamber of Commerce and Industry has a 130-year historical background. It was established in 1885 as the "Cisr-i Ergene Chamber of Commerce" in the Edirne Province Yearbook.
The elections resulted as follows, and the Board of Directors was formed and reported to the Ministry of Trade.
- President: Hafiz Ismail Efendi (Yayalar)
- Member: Tecelli Efendi (Cora)
- Member: Tanasaki Efendi
- Member: Haci Hristo Aga
According to the 1891 Yearbook, the Uzunkopru Chamber of Commerce became two separate organizations under the name "Cisr-i Ergene Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture and Industry". The administration is formed as follows:
- President: Hafiz Ismail Efendi (Yayalar)
- Member: Tecelli Efendi (Cora)
- Member: Ibrahim Bey
- Member: Tanasaki Efendi
- Member: Istavridi Efendi
- Member: Avram Efendi
As a result of the defeats in the Balkan and First World Wars, Uzunkopru was occupied by Bulgarians and Greeks, and the people suffered great distress and hardship. For this reason, the Chamber of Commerce could not make its presence felt during this period.
With the victory in the War of Independence, our country was liberated from the enemy and the Republic was established. The Law on Chambers of Commerce and Industry, dated April 22, 1925, and numbered 655, was adopted. According to this law, the Uzunkopru Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been re-established.
Previously, there was no obligation to register members in Chambers of Commerce and Industry. With the new law, it has become mandatory for individuals engaged in trade and industry to register as members of the chamber. Significant developments have been seen in Chambers of Commerce and Industry as a result of this law.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry has undertaken the task of reporting the economic and commercial developments of individuals, companies, cooperatives, and industrial enterprises engaged in trade to the government, and regulating, managing, and defending the mutual interests and legal status of merchants.
It closely monitors the activities related to trade and industry in Uzunkopru. It collects information and prepares statistics on these activities. It closely follows the draft laws on trade prepared by the government.
It reports local needs to the government. Furthermore, the duties of Chambers of Commerce and Industry include maintaining the registers of merchants in their regions, preparing documents for goods to be sold abroad, certifying signatures, opening museums and trade exchanges, publishing books and magazines related to trade, and assisting poor students studying at trade schools.
The new Law No. 4355 of January 11, 1943, on Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Chambers of Craftsmen, and Trade Exchanges, reflected the economic situation and developments concerning the subjects of the new Chamber of Industry to its members in the most realistic way.
Today, Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Trade Exchanges are organized as two separate organizations under the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, according to Law No. 5174. These organizations, which shape the future of our country, constitute 85% of our economy.
