The CHP's Economic Committee visited OSTİM. Following a discussion program on Economic Crisis and Strategies for Overcoming the Crisis at OSTİM Technical University, the delegation examined the 100% electric, domestically produced metrobus exhibited at the OSTİM Organized Industrial Zone Regional Directorate. They also visited EMGE Electro Mechanical Equipment, a company that manufactures products for the defense and aerospace industry, and received information about their products.
CHP Economics Committee Chairman Faik Öztrak, along with members including Deputy Chairman Prof. Dr. Fethi Açıkel, Konya MP Abdüllatif Şener, Uşak MP Özkan Yalım, and former İzmir MP and Committee Secretary Rahmi Aşkın Türeli, met with representatives from the industrial and academic worlds in OSTİM.
Competency-based instruction
OSTİM Technical University Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Yülek stated that they are the world's first industrial university. He explained that, possessing this distinction, they strive to implement a competency-based teaching method, saying, “What we mean by competency-based is knowledge, skills, abilities, behaviors, and values. When these elements combine, competency emerges. If our students graduate with certain gains in each of these areas, then they become competent engineers.”
Emphasizing that it is the duty of universities to produce skills by applying knowledge, Rector Yülek said, “If we, as universities, can provide the profile that the labor market demands, we benefit both the country and the companies. And young people are employed with good salaries.”
Murat Yülek stated that they have established very close relationships with universities abroad, mentioning that they have initiated close cooperation with Coventry University in the United Kingdom and have also partnered with Andijan University in Uzbekistan, allowing students to study for two years in Uzbekistan and two years at OSTİM Technical University.
Municipalities' preference for local products is a national issue.
Orhan Aydın, Chairman of the OSTİM Board of Directors and the OSTİM Technical University Board of Trustees, provided information about the establishment process of the region and the projects it is carrying out.
Aydın, who voiced the problems of industrialists, underlined that delays caused by bureaucracy lead to a loss of time and energy.
Orhan Aydın, emphasizing the importance of public institutions and municipalities showing sensitivity to domestic and national brands in their procurement methods, pointed out that some municipalities belonging to all parties are procuring their needs from abroad even though domestic vehicles and products are available, saying, “We absolutely do not accept this. Let's go and inform the municipalities belonging to the CHP about this. This is a national issue. Currently, we have companies in Turkey that completely manufacture electric vehicles, buses, light rail, metro, high-speed trains, and construction machinery. We can produce them 100% domestically. These should not be purchased from abroad.”
Aydın stated that in the tradesmen's culture, no discrimination is made based on party, belief, color, etc., and added, "The harshness on the screens disturbs us. We are all in the same city, we see each other face to face, and we are saddened to watch the arguments that tear each other apart. We do not approve of this language. We should work together in harmony."
Proposed New Rule, Institution, Staff
Faik Öztrak, Head of the CHP's Economic Committee and Party Spokesperson, assessed the current state of the economy and explained the CHP's proposed solutions in a presentation titled "Economic Crisis and Strategies for Exiting the Crisis."
Öztrak argued that Turkey is being dragged into a major crisis due to the intertwining of a state crisis, an economic crisis, and a coronavirus crisis, stating, “Our country has deviated from its 2023 course. A national income of 2 trillion dollars was promised for 2023. To achieve this, our national income needed to reach 1.6 trillion dollars in 2020, but it only reached 717 billion dollars. The cost of Turkey deviating from its 2023 course is currently 892 billion dollars.”
Öztrak pointed out that the success of economic policies can be measured by job creation, noting that Turkey's working-age population increases by around 930,000 people every year, but citizens cannot find jobs.
Faik Öztrak stated that Turkey needs to roll over $190 billion in external debt and finance a current account deficit of $14 billion within the next year, adding that at least $100 billion is needed to refinance this debt. He also noted that the Central Bank's reserves showed a negative balance of $43 billion as of March 12, 2021, claiming this is the most significant risk facing Turkey in the short term.
Öztrak stated that Turkey needs to implement an urgent action plan to emerge from the crisis, emphasizing the need for a serious austerity program.
Öztrak, sharing the details of the CHP's four-pronged strategy for overcoming the crisis, concluded his presentation by saying, "To implement this strategy, we need 'Three New' things: New Rules, New Institutions, and New Personnel. We have the personnel who previously pulled the country out of one of the deepest crises in its history. We are ready."
“Production and technological advancements are impressive”
Following his visit to the OSTİM Organized Industrial Zone management, Faik Öztrak stated that the university is organized with an understanding that will serve the industry. Saying that "truly great things are being done in OSTİM," Öztrak noted that, apart from well-known large companies, SMEs are also achieving incredible successes.
Reminding everyone of the importance of exports from SMEs in the region, Faik Öztrak shared the following views: “Even during the embargoes imposed on Turkey, they were able to produce the parts that Turkey needed, including those needed by the defense industry, without any problems. There shouldn't be a demand structure that only turns to foreign companies when embargoes are in place and then returns to them when they end. Especially state institutions that demand goods from the defense industry should continue to purchase from these firms within certain quotas. The production, technological development, and materials we see here today are extremely impressive; I congratulate the company owners.”
I congratulate Professor Dr. Murat Yülek, Rector of OSTİM Technical University. The explanations given to us by Orhan Aydın, Chairman of the OSTİM Board of Directors, were also extremely informative. We were also pleased to have visited a chairman who is so knowledgeable about the system and his institution.”
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