Turkish Business Leaders Call for Extension of Force Majeure for Earthquake-Affected Businesses

The President of the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK), Bendevi Palandöken, has called for an extension of the force majeure provisions for businesses in the 11 provinces affected by the devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey in February. Palandöken emphasized that the businesses in the region are still struggling to recover and that the force majeure provisions, which are currently set to expire at the end of August, should be extended to provide much-needed relief. He highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by businesses in Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, and the Islahiye and Nurdağı districts of Gaziantep, stressing the need for additional support to help them regain stability. Palandöken stated that businesses are still grappling with the aftermath of the disaster, facing difficulties in rebuilding and restarting operations. He advocated for extending the force majeure provisions, which would offer a reprieve from tax and insurance obligations, allowing businesses to focus on their recovery.