Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) presented the roadmap and action plan to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who initiated the process of reforming the economy, regarding the new export mobilization. TİM Chairman İsmail Gülle, “T began its export adventure with 35 billion dollars, with together our President. Today we are advancing to the export target of $200 billion. We have upgraded Turkey with exports, and we will continue to upgrade. We did not evade from the responsibility during difficult times, will never evade in the coming period” he said.President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who initiated the process of reforming the economy, regarding the new export mobilization. TİM Chairman İsmail Gülle, “Turkey began its export adventure with 35 billion dollars, with together our President. Today we are advancing to the export target of $200 billion. We have upgraded Turkey with exports, and we will continue to upgrade. We did not evade from the responsibility during difficult times, will never evade in the coming period” he said.
Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), the only umbrella organization in Turkey for 61 exporters’ associations, 27 sectors, and 95,000 exporters, met with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. President Erdoğan accepted TİM Chairman İsmail Gülle, the delegation of Council of Sectors, and TİM Board Members in Vahdettin Mansion. During the meeting, stating that they fully supported the mobilization of exports during the new normal and new reform period within the scope of Turkey’s vision of a foreign trade surplus,
Gülle shared the TİM’s projects, the new roadmaps in exports, and an action plan with President Erdoğan, with a detailed presentation.
“The goal is “Turkey with foreign trade surplus”
Stating that they are thankful for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s support for exports so far, TİM Chairman İsmail Gülle said, “Turkey began its export adventure with 35 billion dollars, with together our President. Today we are advancing to the export target of $200 billion. So, since we started the third thousand years, under the leadership of our Presidency, we have almost increased exports by 6 times. We have upgraded Turkey with exports, and we will continue to upgrade. Together with the Turkish Exporters Assembly, which is the only umbrella organization of export in Turkey, we are confident that we will achieve many successes. We are aware that we are embarking on a whole new journey with our president. With a consciousness that exports will not be done without production, the support of our President is of great importance to ensure domestic and national production especially in the intermediate goods that we depend on the outside. In this context, we need the support of the President, which will enable us to be competitive in the fields of energy and employment, as well as support for investment financing.”
“As TİM, we work with our whole strength”
İsmail Gülle emphasized that they are working with their forces to make Turkish export goods a trademark of our country, and listed their expectations for the new mobilization they started in exports as TİM:
“The foreign trade regime and the foreign exchange regime must be transparent and understandable. The changes should be less frequent. As our president has often underlined, economic management that walks simultaneously with market dynamics for a predictable exchange rate level, not constantly rising, needs a new approach that establishes confidence. Continuous support and funding for Eximbank and the institutions that finance exports. An effective and competitive logistics network to increase the opportunities for foreign sales and the supply of our country. To be in constant coordination with our Central Bank and public banks, to exchange views once a month. Emergency investments in digital infrastructure and automation systems. In these regards, we are aware of the sensitivity of our government as well as the vast vision of our President. In this critical period, we do not doubt that our President’s support for exports and the exporter who shed their sweat will continue unceasingly from now on, as before.
Meanwhile,the innovation of Turkish overseas logistics centers will ensure the rapid flow of exports and products’ penetration of international supply chains at low cost, thus serving sustainable export growth, according to an expert.
“Logistics centers will also help us boost our capabilities in e-commerce abroad,” Turgut Erkeskin, chairman of the Foreign Economic Relations Board’s (DEİK) Logistics Business Council, told.
Erkeskin said the centers will enhance Turkey’s export performance in strategic regions such as Africa, the Americas, Europe, Russia, and the Far East.
Citing a decree by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan this October on government support for logistics centers, he noted that some expenses of these centers would be supported by the country’s Trade Ministry for five years.
“We target the countries where our exports have deep growth potential,” Erkeskin said, stressing that they would first open in countries with relatively less logistics infrastructure.
The first continent that stands out is Africa, he said, adding: “Our first focus will be countries such as Ghana and Nigeria, where there are major bottlenecks in logistics infrastructure despite their great market potential.”
“Since they have a habit and taste for Turkish goods, we can achieve permanent export improvement here.”
Countries with developed logistics systems, like the U.S., U.K., Germany and China, are also included in the initiative, Erkeskin said, adding that Turkey could gain an advantage via incentives provided by those countries and the efforts on special commodity groups.
“If we obtain a cost advantage in those countries and boost our competitiveness, we’ll continue to work to ensure that our small- and medium-sized entrepreneurs benefit from the incentive,” he said.
Logistics centers will provide timing advantages for deadlines, especially for e-commerce, besides the cost advantages, Erkeskin said.
“They will also enhance customer satisfaction thanks to fast delivery.”
Amid the supply chain disruptions caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak, logistics centers will help Turkish exporters eliminate such hurdles, he maintained.
“Even if countries implement lockdown measures, we’ll have the ability to use our presence and export potential in those countries,” Erkeskin stressed.
“This is a very important function.”
For countries with less-developed logistics infrastructure along China’s Belt and Road initiative, the incentive will offer Turkish exporters various opportunities, he added.
The Belt and Road Initiative is an ambitious development program to connect Asia with Africa and Europe via land and maritime networks along six corridors with the aim of improving regional integration, boosting trade and stimulating economic growth. Underlining that these countries’ investment environment and legal infrastructure is also very important, Erkeskin said: “We also want to receive invitations from those countries, such as investment incentives.”
Erkeskin said tangible steps towards opening the logistics centers will be taken in the third quarter of 2021, providing areas for storage, loading and unloading, handling, shipment, and cargo unification and division services.
