Aydın has been one of the most important centers of the trade in every period in Anatolia with its historical background and fertile territories. That caravan routes which are very important for the trade pass through Aydın has made city trade more active. People have required taking necessary measures and doing facilitator arrangements in order to control trade flow in history. Chambers are based on Turkish Islamic Guild. This structure was trade, industry and professional organization for Turkish people in Anatolian Seljuk, Beyliks and Ottoman Period. Today, Turkish Union of Chambers and Exchange Commodities, Chambers of Commerce, Chambers of Industry, Commodity Exchanges are equivalent to this structure. Foundation of Chambers of Commerce was laid in 19^th century in Ottoman Period. Ministry of Commerce and Agriculture of the period declared that it was necessary to open chambers of commerce in all provinces and counties with a declaration published in 1882. Based on this, chambers of commerce were founded in many provinces. The first chamber officially founded in Ottoman Period is Dersaadet (İstanbul) Chamber of Commerce. It started to work in 1882.

Our Chamber of Commerce started to work by being founded in 1904 according to Aydın Provincial Annual.

EXECUTIVE BOARD OF AYDIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN 1904

CHAIRMAN: HACI HAFIZ MEHMED EFENDİ

MEMBER: HACI MEHMED EFENDİ

MEMBER: HACI MUSTAFA ALİ AĞA

MEMBER: AHMED EMİN AĞA

MEMBER: MİHALAKİ EFENDİ

MEMBER: TODORİ EFENDİ

MEMBER: OHANNES EFENDİ

MEMBER: HAMAKİ EFENDİ

An important improvement in terms of the organization was provided with Chambers of Commerce and Industry Law dated 22 April 1925 and numbered 655. The law numbered 655 and regulation entered into force according to this law bound foundation and functions of the chambers to certain principles. Another important innovation with this law was that it was accepted that chambers were professional associations having legal personality. The law required people who worked with trade and industry to register the chambers. Besides, this law made work field of chambers more regional rather than local.

Aydın Chamber of Commerce was carrying on its activities with 207 members in 1926. It bought the foundation land which is in Veysipaşa neighborhood still known as grain bazaar with Council of Ministers’ decision in 13 January 1930 and approval of President of the Republic Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as a result of increasing number of members and income. Aydın Chamber of Commerce was active for a while in the building in Aydın Terminal and then it built two-storey building in the land which it bought and carried on providing service with personnels needed for work load. Chamber participated in fair opened in İzmir in 1935 with the aim of introducing agriculture and industry products of Aydın and it continued to participate in these fairs for 4 years. In the later years, it participated in many fairs in İzmir by following the fairs regularly and it exhibited its agricultural products. The number of professional committee of Chamber of Commerce carrying on its activities in 1970s reached to 9.

Chamber of Commerce didn’t only improve trade life of Aydın but also engaged in activities for social life, too and it founded Chamber of Commerce Local in State Railways terminal building in 1963. Local provided service by hosting people of Aydın and domestic and foreign tourists. It supported technical school in the city financially to develop technical education and helped specific number of students getting into technical universities. It provided stationery support and bought various inventory stocks for secondary schools in Aydın.  When we look history of the Chamber, we see that people having significant places for trade life of Aydın such as Ekrem Çifti, Ömer Ayaydın, Raif Günaydın, Eyüp Şahin, Rüştü Başkoru Nabi Koçak, Ahmet Menzilci, Hulusi Çakıcı, Haşim Koçak, Cevdet Eşkinat, Hüseyin Ruhi Gökoğlu were in charge.

Today, Aydın Chamber of Commerce is a professional organization which completed its institutionalism with its nearly 10000 members, 17 professional committees and activity period of 114 years. Member satisfaction constitutes of primary base of service policy of the Chamber. Aydın Chamber of Commerce is carrying on its activities in order to reach the highest development level of Aydın by leading city economy with its activities.