Egypt is very important for us to reach Arabian Peninsula.
We, as business world of Mersin, had previously published a warning statement about the agreement related to Ro-Ro excursion between Turkey and Egypt which was going to end on 24 April 2015 and what the concluded problems are going to be in the end. The problem was clear. Our tractor trailers loaded with export goods were unable to reach Arabian Peninsula and Gulf Market due to the troubles in Iraq and Syria. That is why, with great efforts of Mersin Chambers of Commerce and Industry and support of Ministry of Economy, this problem was by-passed with the Ro-Ro line between Turkey-Egypt, which means the tractor trailers were loaded to Ro-Ro vessels and routed to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and gulf countries after Egypt-Alexandria through the highway within the borders of Egypt in a short time lasting four days. Even if the costs increased compared to the highway over Syria, our competitiveness was protected thanks to supports of our Ministry of Economy.
Our food and agricultural products are racing against time in terms of transportation
The problems in Syria still continue and seem to not to have an end in a short time. On the other hand, the fact that the agreement between Turkey-Egypt Ro-Ro excursions use of the linked highway as transit will be ending on 24 April and there will be no roll forward due to the negative relations with Egypt is going to challenge both exporters and logistics sector. Our Ministry of Economy recommends the container transportation, but agriculture (fresh vegetable and fruit) and food products are more common in the region in terms of exporting. Those products also need to be delivered to the market in a short time period. Those goods cannot be transferred withing the time period exceeding twenty days. There are refrigerated systems, but those systems are expensive tranportation systems decreasing the profit. If new costs are also reflected to our transporter and exporter suffering from losses in terms of expenditure and time, our competitiveness in this region will be faded away.
Our country has a great tractor trailer fleet; those investments should be protected
In addition, our region, especially Mersin and Hayat has a great potential of tractor trailer fleet. Provided that Ro-Ro excursions stop, this sector is about to be seized and a serious economical loss occurs, which means a loss of employment. The fact that our fleet becomes inactive especially in those days when region countries start creating their own tractor trailer fleets, means wasting those great investments. It is absolutely important to find a solution for those problems, yet the solutions shouldn’t cause greater losses. We shared this issue with Hatay and other neighbouring chambers. Problem is not only the problem of a city. Problem is a great one for the cities exporting towards Arabian Peninsula and including a range of producing area consisted of Mersin, Adana, Hatay, Gaziantep, Osmaniye, Kahramanmaraş, Kayseri, Konya and Karaman also called as the new Marmaris of Turkey. European market stil couldn’t build itself up. Russia is in trouble and North Africa is still lack of consistency, and Middle East as well. Committing recently and making money Arabian Peninsula and Gulf market should be preserved as well. If logistics comes to a stopping point, this breaks down the motivation of our economy. Our economy needs motivating developments.
PROMOTION DAYS OF MERSIN CONTINUED WITH ANKARA…
BUT THE CENTRAL COMPANIES OF MERSIN WERE ABSENT…
Mersin keeps going on the promotion days so as to preserve its heading brand value and advertise the city better. After the promotion days held in İstanbul Feshane, we were in Ankara this week. We tried to make a wind blowing named Mersin in a short time. There might also be some deficiencies, but the more promotion days we make, the more experienced we become. However, there is a subject about which we need to take responsibility. There was an extreme turnout at the Mersin Promotion Days in Ankara in terms of counties. Counties joined the event both as municipalities, companies and civil society organizations. We appreciate them. Our governorship, municipality MCCI and universities participated from Mersin. However, unfortunately our center companies, brand companies of Mersin did not support this organisation as required. Great brands of food in Mersin were not there. Main aim of those promotion days is to contribute to the economy. If some other cities lay claim to those products and brands, it shouldn’t surprise us. And if our wish as a city is to develop, those who earn their money from this city need to be more sensitive and willing.
TURKEY NEEDS TO KEEP ITS DISTANCE FROM INTER-ENTERPRISE CONFLICT
Recently many reflections of fights and harsh critical discussions between political and economical institutions such as Constitutional Court, Central Bank, and political parties in the Assembly disturbed whole country. Especially business world which are the most vulnerable part and economy is extremely disturbed. We need to remind what institutional fights causing crisis in the country in 2001 made us lose. We need to be stronger inside the country while there are serious troubles both in global and neighboring areas outside. Solidarity and compliance are the keys to create power amongst institutions. Self determinations of the institutions are required to be respected. And instutions are required to provide the sense and confidence of working on behalf of their nations in a suprapolitical manner through their decisions and acts. Business world and all citizens expect that institutions work in a compatible and peaceful way. There is one single point that our history always proved us: As we stand strong inside and act with solidarity and try to cover our deficiencies on our own, our country always develops. Just as we give up on acting that way, and start acting with fight and hostility to each other, we always lose. World is getting through a new era. Economies turn into new unions. Our neighbourhood is as complicated and unstable as never before. Great markets get smaller and competitiveness become fiercer. The acquisitions of last decade in such an environment need to be preserved. Our country needs solidarity, peace and collaboration instead of fight.