Free zones, which export more than 11 billion dollars a year and employ 91 thousand people in total, joined forces under the umbrella of the Free Zones Founders and Operators Association (SEBKİDER) in order to attract more direct investment to Turkey.
Ege Free Zone Kurucu ve Isleticisi A.Ş. was appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Directors at the first General Assembly Meeting of SEBKİDER, in which 19 free zones in Turkey are represented, held at the association's headquarters in Ankara on April 14. (ESBAŞ) General Manager Yusuf Kılınç was elected. Establishment of European Free Zone. Business Inc. (ASB) General Manager Tarkan Değirmenci Deputy Chairman, Istanbul Atatürk Airport Free Zone Establishment. Business A.Ş.(İSBİ) General Manager Ergenekon Küçük, Secretary General, Istanbul Industry and Trade Free Zone Establishment. Business A.Ş. (DESBAŞ) General Manager Hakan Ceylan Treasurer and Adana Yumurtalık Free Zone Establishment. Business Inc. (TAYSEB) General Manager Yusuf Dinçsoy also assumed the duty as a member and formed the SEBKİDER Board of Directors. Mersin Free Zone Establishment in the Supervisory Board of the Association. Business Inc. (MESBAŞ) General Manager Edvar Mum, Istanbul Thrace Free Zone Establishment. Business Inc. (İSBAŞ) Sales and Marketing Manager Selen Kermen and Samsun Free Zone Establishment. Business Inc. (SASBAŞ) General Manager Ercüment Karaca took on the task.
Will Attract More Direct Investments to Turkey
Stating that he is a member of the associations of the free zone founder and operator representatives in Turkey, SEBKİDER Chairman of the Board Yusuf Kılınç said that their goal is to further develop the free zones, which act as a strong dynamo in the export, employment and production leg of the country's economy, and to attract more direct investors to Turkey. recorded. Stating that this union of forces among free zone operators strengthens their hands in achieving this goal, Kılınç said that SEBKİDER will represent Turkey's knowledge and experience on free zones in various organizations abroad, and that it will develop joint projects with the TOBB Free Zones Assembly on international platforms. He emphasized that they will promote Turkish free zones much better. Yusuf Kilinc said:
“The union of forces provided by the association will enable us to organize more effective promotional activities in order to attract more foreign direct investors to free zones. We have gained an NGO platform that will intensify our work such as researching the best free zone models in the world and adapting successful applications to applications in our country, as well as promoting the best practices in our country. Increasing the interest of foreign direct investors in Turkey will enable more economic value to be produced in our existing free zones.”
Free Zones Will Increase Contribution to Economy
Kılınç stated that in 19, a trade volume of 2022 billion dollars was realized in 32 free zones in Turkey and 11 billion of this consisted of export revenues, and gave the following information: “The number of employment in all free zones has exceeded 91 thousand people. As a result of the studies we will carry out through our SEBKİDER common platform, the free zones will contribute more to the Turkish economy in terms of employment, production and export. Our association will also contribute to social developments and sustainability studies by establishing cooperation with other NGOs. Another aim of ours is to provide a holistic approach that will enable all free zones to act together on common issues. This union of forces will also enable us to cooperate to increase the quality of service offered to investors in free zones. We will create solutions with a common mind so that investors in our regions can benefit from the best services in accordance with the needs of the day and gain competitive advantages. With SEBKİDER, our industry has also gained an institutional structure that will ensure its coordination with the Ministry of Commerce, chambers of industry and all economic and social structures. In many of our free zones that have reached 100 percent occupancy rates, there are urgent issues that await solutions, such as the realization of development areas, the introduction of new free zones into the economy and the increase in investments. Our association will also play an active role in accelerating these processes. ”