The Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) has launched a production drive within the “production-trade-investment” triangle in order to eliminate the effects of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, which began in the Wuhan province of China in December 2019 and took hold of the entire world in a short time

Many experts and economists foresee that the Coronavirus outbreak, which has led to a global economic crisis, will be a historic turning point in the world economic system.

The fact that the economic crisis occurring at the global level stems from an outbreak also brings with it the idea that there can be no normalization until the disease problem is completely resolved.

The ecological changes taking place in the world and the problem of global warming are interpreted as a harbinger that outbreaks similar to the coronavirus may be experienced again in the future.

MÜSİAD Has Taken Action for the Post-Corona Period

In this context, MÜSİAD has implemented the “MÜSİAD Production and Investment Bases” project in order to eliminate the effects of the Coronavirus outbreak, to keep the production and trade system from being disrupted in the face of possible new outbreaks and disasters, to strengthen supply and investment lines and to establish a sustainable system.

President Abdurrahman Kaan, who shared his assessments on the subject, stated that Türkiye will become the world’s new supply point in the post-pandemic period. Kaan said, “Türkiye is in an advantageous position by virtue of its geopolitical location. In the post-corona period the world has understood how important it is to distribute risks. It has seen that dependence on China means putting all the eggs in the same basket in crisis management. Moreover, even if the crisis ends, it will take time for its psychological effects to come to a complete end and for the perception of production and trade to normalize. At this point Türkiye has become the world’s new supply point, both with the process management that won the appreciation of the entire world during the Coronavirus outbreak and with its perception of a sterile and safe production chain.”

The Positive Image Must Be Turned into an Advantage

Noting that in the period ahead Türkiye will move into an advantageous position in the items in which it competes with China in world exports, Kaan said,” The losses that will be experienced in production in the countries to which we export the most (Germany, Iraq, the United Kingdom, Italy, the USA) will pave the way for new orders to be compensated through imports. The fact that social perception will not change in the long term despite China’s economic recovery process will increase the tendency to see Türkiye as a new low-cost producer. If China resorts to a policy of cutting prices through rapid production and stockpiling during the recovery process, then it will be compulsory for us to move to a new production policy over the inputs on which we are dependent in imports. In addition, in order to be able to compete with Chinese products that will enter the market at low prices, scale size will have to be ready for production at a high rate. In the increase in demand that will be experienced particularly in the food sector, Türkiye’s positive image in world consumption perception compared to China must be well evaluated at this point.”

Compact Production and Investment Bases with Every Stage Thought Through

“Making statements about the MÜSİAD Production and Investment Bases, Oktay Dede, Chairman of the MÜSİAD Production and Trade Planning High Board, stated that with the project they aim to establish complex production facilities in every part of our country in which every kind of negative scenario is taken into account.

Dede said, “Our SMEs, the locomotive element of the Turkish economy, are the carrying elements of employment, production and foreign trade. Micro and small enterprises are in a very difficult situation in Anatolia in the spatial sense. Our SMEs generally continue their work in shops of 30, 50, 80 and 100 square metres. The primary condition for the growth of SMEs is spatial arrangement. There are small industrial estates and Organized Industrial Zones (OIZ) in Türkiye. However, here, SME restructuring bases that will facilitate the transition of the enterprises in these small industrial estates to the OIZs need to be built.”

Stating that in this context they have begun to implement the Medium-Scale Industrial Zone (OSB) project throughout Türkiye, Dede said, we opened our first facility in Tekirdağ. The construction of the second prototype has now begun in İstanbul Hadımköy. We gave this project of ours the name “MÜSİAD Production and Investment Bases” project. We have also obtained our permissions and support from the relevant Ministries and public institutions. In the near future we will be implementing our projects throughout the entire country.”

Measures Have Been Taken Against Every Kind of Negative Scenario

Giving information about the infrastructure and technical details of the facilities, Dede said,” Within the scope of the project, the establishment of both a logistics centre and accommodation facilities for teams coming from outside was planned in order to prevent sanitation-based blockages in the logistics system. In addition, a production and transport line was designed in which every kind of isolation, including 14-day quarantines, will be provided in guest houses where health measures have been taken. With the bonded warehouse established inside the site, export procedures will become easy and fast. In addition, maximum product safety and sanitation will be applicable during packaging and loading. Furthermore, in order to ensure reliability and reputation management in trade, the procedures will also be open to sanitation and other inspections by auditors who will come from the countries to which the ordering companies are affiliated.”

Isolated Living Space

Stating that, thanks to the store systems designed inside the site, they envisage damage being kept at a minimum level during outbreak and disaster periods, Dede said, “In the facilities planned to be created there will be every kind of store that prepares an environment in which the producers and the workforce that will ensure production and trade continue in a healthy manner can work without lowering their quality of life. In addition, it will ensure that businesses such as banks, cargo companies, the PTT, spare parts shops, perfumery sales, markets and restaurants operate continuously inside these structures during outbreak and disaster periods.”

A Self-Sufficient Complex Structure

Oktay Dede noted that, thanks to the energy facilities and fuel stations located inside the site, they have created systems that produce their own energy without being dependent on the outside and with an environmentalist point of view, and that lower energy costs in favour of the companies within the system.

Learning Regions

Emphasizing that within the scope of the “MÜSİAD Production and Investment Bases” project they will act within the Academia-Public-Industry triangle, Dede expressed that vocational high schools, dormitories and accommodation areas will be created within the facilities in order to meet the need for a qualified workforce and to resolve the need for intermediate staff. Stating that these facilities created for students can also be used for workers during periods of crisis, Dede said that in this way they aim to prevent production from being disrupted.

Oktay Dede stated that, in order that the families of the employees may also be offered a peaceful life, there will additionally be social structures within the complex such as a pharmacy, a health centre, a hospital, a mosque, indoor and outdoor sports areas, and theatre and cinema halls.