The Business and Construction Machinery Cluster (İŞİM) shared the results of the needs analysis study for its fourth URGE Project, supported by the Turkish Ministry of Trade, with its members and stakeholders at the Export Roadmap Meeting it organized.
During the meeting, a workshop was held to gather contributions from İŞİM members regarding target export markets and focus products. İŞİM Foreign Trade Specialist Esma Akyüz gave a presentation in Ankara on the general situation and exports of the business and construction machinery sector.
The meeting was attended by: Nurettin Özdebir, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ankara Chamber of Industry; Orhan Aydın, Chairman of the Board of Directors of OSTİM; Prof. Dr. Murat Yülek, Rector of OSTİM Technical University; Osman Kısacık, KOSGEB OSTİM Manager; Dr. Coşkun Şerefoğlu, Head of Business Development and Strategy Unit of Ankara Development Agency; Ahmet Öztürk, Industry Director of METU Technopark Management Inc.; Zühtü Bakır, General Secretary of the Federation of Machine Manufacturing Industry Associations (MAKFED); members of İŞİM; and numerous representatives from stakeholder institutions.
30 countries targeted
İŞİM Board Chairperson Halide Rasim stated that they have been working very closely with the public sector on important issues concerning the industry as part of their clustering efforts.
Rasim noted that the demands related to the business and construction machinery sector are included in the 11th Development Plan, and emphasized the importance of production and export for their members.
Providing information about the fourth URGE Project, Halide Rasim said, “30 countries have been identified in the export target country research. We will be working on these countries at our Export Roadmap meeting. We look forward to the contributions of all our members.”
“The cluster has international validity”
OSTİM Board Chairman Orhan Aydın drew attention to the importance of clustering initiatives. Aydın stated, “Clustering is a structure with international validity. If we can take the work one step further by cooperating with our competitors, we will progress further. Or, in destructive competition, if we destroy each other, none of us will win.”
Aydın emphasized the need for a joint competitive analysis within the sector, suggesting, "Let's identify our problems and solutions together, produce a common document, and move forward step by step."
“We are happy to see our work mentioned in the texts of public institutions,” said Orhan Aydın, continuing: “By cooperating with the public, we will do great things for ourselves, our company, our region, and our country. I would like to thank KOSGEB, MAKFED, Ankara Chamber of Industry, Ankara Development Agency, Ankara Chamber of Commerce, and all supporting institutions.”
“My work has become a model for Turkey”
Nurettin Özdebir, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ankara Chamber of Industry, pointed out that the importance of sectoral clustering is concretely seen in the rail systems sector as well.
Özdebir, noting that clustering creates a market, said, "When buyers from abroad come to İŞİM, they know they can access all their needs, from machinery to spare parts."
Emphasizing the necessity of production for the country's economy, Nurettin Özdebir addressed the İŞİM members as follows: “The work you do is the sole key to this country's prosperity. We will produce, and we will source intermediate inputs domestically as much as possible. In the coming period, God willing, Turkey will get rid of intermediate goods imports and produce its own intermediate goods to support its production.”
Highlighting the importance of the construction and earthmoving machinery sector for Ankara's economy, Özdebir stated, "There are truly commendable companies in the construction and earthmoving machinery sector. We are going through a difficult period, but thanks to you, our country will overcome this. Companies that export more than 35% of their production are in a more comfortable position than those that do not export."
"İŞİM is doing great things and has become an example for Turkey," said Özdebir, noting that OSTİM's clustering efforts are being followed all over Turkey. He added: "With OSTİM Chairman Orhan Aydın starting to use clustering as a development tool, an awareness has been created in Turkey. OSTİM is now providing training on clustering to other cities."
Reminding that ASO is a member of the European Business Network, Özdebir advised İŞİM members to "increase the visibility of your companies in the European Business Network."
“We want to be involved in the business world”
OSTİM Technical University Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Yülek drew attention to the importance of the price per kilogram of exported products for the country's development. Yülek said, "If you manage to sell a product at a high price per kilogram, you don't become a poor country."
Yülek stated that clusters need to develop methods to sell goods in larger tonnages and at higher prices per kilogram in world markets, adding, “As a university, we want to be here to support this in whatever way is necessary. As a third-generation, innovative, entrepreneurial university, we want to be directly involved with industry, the business world, and companies.”
Murat Yülek defined an entrepreneurial university as follows: “When we talk about what an entrepreneurial, innovative university is, it is a university that is involved in society, in business life and industry, and in return finds financial resources from society, companies, and the state, by being beneficial to society.”
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