LOGISTECH ⁇ Logistics, Storage and Technologies Fair, hosted by Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and organized by İZFAŞ for the third time this year, welcomes its visitors at Fuar İzmir ⁇ . During the Presidents' Session held within the scope of the fair, it was emphasized that logistics infrastructure investments should be completed in order to increase Turkey's logistics performance and its power to be a transfer center.
Within the scope of LOGISTECH ⁇ Logistics, Storage and Technologies Fair, which was organized by İZFAŞ for the third time this year between 11 and 13 September, hosted by Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, a Presidents Session was held under the chairmanship of Mihri Çelik, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of IMEAK Chamber of Shipping Izmir Branch. The speakers drew attention to the importance of projects that will connect our country to global transportation corridors, especially the Development Road, and stated that the geographical advantage can be turned into a logistical opportunity with digital technology and green transformation. Turkish Airlines (THY) Cargo Sales Vice President Ahmet Kaya, International Transport and Logistics Service Providers Association (UTIKAD) Chairman Bilgehan Engin, Turkish Port Operators Association (TÜRKLİM) Chairman Hamdi Erçelik and Izmir Maritime Transporters Association (DND) Chairman Şükriye Vardar took part in the session as speakers.
⁇ Demand for air cargo increased ⁇
Expressing that the demand for cargo transportation increased with the effect of changing consumption habits and e-commerce after the pandemic, THY Cargo Vice President of Sales Ahmet Kaya, ⁇ E-commerce increased with the pandemic and was one of the main factors that revived air cargo transportation. Demand for air cargo services, especially related to last-minute deliveries and rapidly rotating stocks, has increased. Turkey's geographical position has a very important role in the supply flow. Istanbul Airport has become one of the most modern, important and largest air hubs in the world. THY has the largest flight network in the world. In addition, we play a very serious leverage role in terms of increasing Turkey's foreign trade capacity with the opportunities, quality services, growing cargo operations.
⁇ Turkey can move above its target location ⁇
Stating that developments such as the breakdown of the pandemic process in global supply chains, the concept of close supply, local production processes, what happened between China and the USA, Russia ⁇ Ukraine war, the Suez Canal incident have assigned new roles to our country, UTİKAD Chairman Bilgehan Engin said, ⁇ Europe is a very important market for Turkey in the conditions created by the pandemic in the first place, and the fragility of global supply processes assigns an important role to Turkey ⁇ . In this role, if Turkey moves in the right direction, we will benefit from this. Especially with some investments to be made on the railway side and legislative regulations to encourage and facilitate transit transportation, Turkey can both seriously cash out this advantageous position and strengthen its regional power. Turkey can go above and beyond its target in the World Bank Logistics Performance Index. Our country has an annual export of 250 billion dollars. The share we receive as logistics is shaped accordingly. Turkey should also set up its exports. In exports, it is very important that we focus on products of value that have added value, technological production, and that the customer cannot easily turn to different supply channels in terms of supply alternative in the world's own targeted market. This will have a serious multiplier effect on service exports. We also have opportunities and work to do so. We will see the fruit of this in time, but we should definitely not step back from these infrastructure works.
⁇ Digital and green transformation is very important ⁇
Hamdi Erçelik, Chairman of the Board of Directors of TÜRKLİM, touched on the importance of digital and green transformation of ports, ⁇ Turkey is a peninsula country, so we are very rich in terms of coast, but in this coastal structure, ports are quite limited. In establishing ports everywhere, the economic cost and benefit relationship is limited. That's where digitalization comes in. Existing ports need to be run more optimally, to be competitive. ⁇ What a digital country you are, there are great investments ⁇ We need to do it not so that they will applaud, but because we have no other choice. Logistics is a holistic event, we have connection with road seaway, freight, passenger, cruise, air cargo. Ports have a big role to play and that's why efficiency is so important if there's going to be a doubling in capacity. Europe calls for a green transition. Carbon taxes are coming at the border. If we don't take the right steps, we'll all be taxed together. The important thing is to find resources and complete these transformations and take a step forward. Therefore, our agenda is digitalization and green transformation. If we don't, a difficult period awaits us.
⁇ Alsancak ⁇ has a commercial port identity in the fabric of the city ⁇
Referring to Alsancak Port, Erçelik said, What will we do with ⁇ Alsancak Port, will it continue to handle cargo? There is a certain loss of cargo from Alsancak Port to Aliağa ports. It's my opinion; Alsancak ⁇ has a commercial port identity in the fabric of the city, in the direction of its continuation. While he's at it, there may be additional opportunities. I hope it ends soon too. There was talk of privatization of the whole, now focusing on a partial, half-and-half privatization. I think it would be right for the public not to withdraw their hand. Because private sector ports are also looking for a polar star. Port enterprises in the world are operated in an order in which the public tenders a usage contract after making an investment. In Turkey, it is done by the private sector. Therefore, for an alignment, I see that it is useful to have something that the public hand shows how this work is done, that we also need a reference to see our own beauty, and that it will come to a better place with mutual interaction.
We've been through a lot in a short time.
DND Chairman of the Board Şükriye Vardar also ⁇ Turkey's ports are at a level where they can compete with the world. We have four ports in the first 100 ⁇ . We have no problem with quality. Increasing capacity and efficiency, building deep water lines for larger ships, rail, road and inland waterway connections are critical.
Source of: (BYZHA) White News Agency
