Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, the president of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, or TOBB, has been elected deputy president of Eurochambres, the European Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

In the first round of the elections that took place Thursday in Brussels, Hisarcıklıoğlu received support from 35 of 40 voting countries. A board member of Eurochambres since 2004, he will now be part of the highest decision-making body of the association, which voices the interests of more than 19 million member enterprises through a network of 2,000 regional and local chambers.

Austria, France, Germany and Greek Cyprus, which are generally known for their opposition to Turkey, provided the top support to Hisarcıklıoğlu, he said. “We create synergy as we get to know each other and establish dialogue. This is not my success, but the success of the TOBB and my country,” the new deputy president said. “Now, we are at the number two seat of the European Union’s business world. TOBB will be seated where confidential issues are discussed.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu’s term will be for 2010 and 2011.

Alessandro Barberis, president of the Turin Chamber of Commerce, was elected as the new president of the association while Pierre Gramegna from Luxembourg became the other deputy president. Other vice presidents are from France, Germany, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom.

“We have been supported by all countries apart from the EU candidates. All countries, including Greece and Greek Cyprus voted for us,” Hisarcıklıoğlu said.

Created in 1958, Eurochambres is a key pillar in business representation to European institutions. The organization’s members constitute 37 percent of the world economy with a total volume of $22 trillion