OSTİM Chairman Orhan Aydın stated that they produce the most critical and strategic part of the domestic ventilator, saying, "The unsung heroes come from here." Aydın also noted that OSTİM is the backyard of space research and emphasized that animal trials for domestic vaccine research are also conducted in OSTİM.
Aydın met with the Board of Directors of the Economic Journalists Association (EMD). EMD President Turgay Türker spoke about the association's activities and explained the importance of economic journalism in delivering accurate and objective news to the public. Evaluating the developments in the economy and industry during the meeting, Aydın stated the following:
A strategic component of a ventilator.
“With the arrival of the pandemic, there was a halt, panic, anxiety, and difficulties in workplaces. Many questions started coming in. One person asked for a changing room, another for a mask, another for a hat. We immediately organized and created an interface called the Corona Coordination Support Center (KORDEM). We entered all our health-related inventory and companies into it. We included all relevant individuals. We immediately address anyone's needs, such as 'this hospital needs this,' as soon as it's announced.”
A group was formed, including Aselsan and Bayraktar, to solve the country's problem. Our companies weren't very visible there, but the real heroes behind it are our colleagues here. The most critical part of a ventilator is the solenoid. The manufacturers of this most critical and strategic part, the solenoid, are here. Those who produce this part, which you cannot obtain from abroad, are working here. In the end, we found a solution to our country's problem. In difficult times, in challenging times, OSTİM can do anything.
Companies that manufacture mask-making machines have emerged immediately. We have nearly 20 companies that produce mask-making machines. Some of these companies are still manufacturing and selling them abroad. We cannot continue without supporting these companies. Instead of importing them from abroad, we are manufacturing them here. As with everything else in Turkey, there are also companies that buy from one company, add a high price markup, and then sell medical equipment to hospitals.
High interest rates benefit rent-seekers.
We desperately need the medical sector. Manufacturers are trying to survive by selling abroad. Not many are saying, "We're shutting down, we're ruined." They're finding a way to work. Right now, manufacturers are paying a large portion of their earnings in interest. Rising interest rates are making production difficult. It's something that favors rent-seekers and hinders production. Those who produce need to find money, machinery, and raw materials. Those in the construction machinery sector say their turnover and income have increased. We ask why, and they say there are two reasons: Those operating illegally have been eliminated, and we've started working harder. Our market share has increased in Europe and China.
The defense industry is moving very fast right now. The second problem there is that our companies in the aviation sector have slowed down; Airbus and Boeing have halted production, reducing their capacity to 20%. However, they are resisting shutting down operations to survive. These companies are unable to utilize 80% of their production capacity. In Turkey, we had chosen aviation as the sector with the highest export and added value. There is an incredible market and potential. We were calculating that we could invest there. But right now, the area where we are least prepared is civil aviation. They say we need at least a year to catch our breath. These are the companies that make the parts for the planes you fly in.
Energy consumption is increasing.
High interest rates negatively impact those who take out loans. It's very difficult to produce with these interest rates. People can't just switch to self-financing overnight. Those selling food, those with restaurants, are saying, "We've stopped, we've stopped the clock." On the other hand, OSTIM's electricity consumption is increasing. Therefore, there's an increase in our energy consumption. We look at the beginning of the month to see if there's a pandemic or a crisis, but no. Someone looking at OSTIM's curve can learn the direction of Turkish industry a month in advance. In this respect, OSTIM is a reference point for Turkey. The correlation between Turkey and OSTIM is the same. I'm not saying there's a jump in energy consumption, but we're comparing the same month of last year with this month. We look at energy consumption both seasonally and in terms of kilowatt-hours. The increase shows that the industrial sector hasn't been negatively affected by the pandemic. There are opportunities for production, there is potential, and production continues to increase.
1,500 companies sell to the world.
5G technology is very important for us. OSTİM is undertaking one of Turkey's biggest projects. Our proactive approach to digitalization and e-commerce has been very beneficial. Before the pandemic, we had already brought the products of 1,500 of our companies to an environment where they could be sold on an international platform. New opportunities have emerged. A significant portion of the manufacturers of equipment sent into space are located here. This is definitely the backyard of space research. Satellite components are manufactured here. Taking the lead in this area is also very critical for the country. There is a shared responsibility there, similar to the Blue Homeland. A Space Agency has been established. The work we are doing here, the technology of the transmitter, will create the 5G infrastructure. We are not behind the world technologically; we are ahead.
OSTİM is critical for vaccine research
The only accredited laboratory in Turkey where animal testing for domestically produced vaccines is conducted is located in OSTİM. Vaccine research being led by four professors in Turkey is linked to this laboratory. Without the animals in this laboratory, vaccines cannot be developed. Every corner of OSTİM yields a gem of knowledge. Research beyond your wildest dreams emerges from OSTİM. Testing for four vaccine projects is also being conducted here.
We manufacture parts for CERN.
OSTİM has a gross national product of approximately 5 billion dollars. 6,200 companies operate here, providing employment for over 60,000 people. Our small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are very valuable. They are the ones that best care for their employees. Parts for CERN are also made here. CERN identifies needs and asks if we can produce them here. We are capable of producing all the parts related to the accelerator.”
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