At the program “Türkiye's Earthquake Resilience: Lessons from 6 February to Marmara” organized by MÜSİAD in Kocaeli, representatives of the public sector, local government and the business world addressed the reality of earthquakes from many angles. At the program, where the work carried out after the 6 February earthquakes was shared with figures, the message was given that the transformation process for the Marmara Region should be accelerated. Minister Murat Kurum announced that the construction process for 850,000 independent units had been launched in the earthquake zone, emphasizing that the risky building stock in Marmara will be renewed rapidly.
The program “Türkiye's Earthquake Resilience: Lessons from 6 February to Marmara”, organized by the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) Construction and Building Materials Sector Board and hosted by the MÜSİAD Kocaeli Branch, was held at the Kocaeli Congress Centre with the participation of Republic of Türkiye Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Murat Kurum.
In addition to Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Murat Kurum, the program was attended by Kocaeli Governor İlhami Aktaş, Kocaeli Metropolitan Mayor Tahir Büyükakın, MÜSİAD President Burhan Özdemir, MÜSİAD Kocaeli Branch President İzzet Tanrıkulu, MÜSİAD Construction and Building Materials Sector Board Chairman Ömer Kandemir and numerous guests.
Tanrıkulu: “Earthquake-Resilient Cities Are Our Shared Responsibility”
MÜSİAD Kocaeli Branch President İzzet Tanrıkulu, who delivered the opening speech of the program, recalled that Türkiye is an earthquake country and said that the business world must take an active role in the production of safe buildings. Tanrıkulu said: “Building earthquake-resistant cities is no longer a choice but a necessity. The public and private sectors must join hands and accelerate the process”.
Kandemir: “Building Safety Cannot Be Neglected”
MÜSİAD Construction and Building Materials Sector Board Chairman Ömer Kandemir, for his part, stated that the 6 February earthquakes placed significant responsibilities on the sector. Emphasizing that strengthening inspection mechanisms, using quality materials and applying engineering standards without compromise are of vital importance, Kandemir made the following statement: “As a sector, we are ready to do our part for earthquake-resilient cities”.
Özdemir: “We Were in the Field with a Spirit of Solidarity”
MÜSİAD President Burhan Özdemir stated that the 6 February 2023 earthquakes left deep marks on the nation's memory, expressing that the destruction experienced affected not only physically but also seriously affected economic life, production and trade. Emphasizing that a strong spirit of social solidarity nevertheless emerged, Özdemir said that MÜSİAD was in the field with all its organizations from the moment of the earthquake and that members from all four corners of Türkiye mobilized. In this context, he noted that more than 3,000 aid trucks were delivered to the region and that food, water, basic necessities and logistical support were provided without interruption.
Stating that they carried out comprehensive work for social life to get back on its feet after the earthquake, Özdemir conveyed that hot meals were served daily to 10,000 citizens at the MÜSİAD Soup Kitchen established in Kahramanmaraş, that container living areas were completed in Elbistan and Adıyaman, and that a contribution was made to the field hospital in Hatay Defne. Noting also that a masjid was built in Elbistan and that the MÜSİAD-Kızılay Library and the MÜSİAD Health Centre were opened for service in cooperation with the Turkish Red Crescent, Özdemir stated that the Qard al-Hasan Fund was put into operation for the members and the regional business world affected by the earthquake and that interest-free support contributed to the revival of production.
Also drawing attention in his speech to the strong will demonstrated by the state, Özdemir said that, thanks to the work carried out under the leadership of the esteemed President and Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Murat Kurum, the delivery of 455,000 dwellings to their rightful owners in a short time is an exemplary success on a global scale. Stating that the earthquake zone has virtually turned into the world's largest construction site and that the organizational capability displayed has been met with admiration in international contacts, Özdemir emphasized that, in the specific case of the Marmara Region, strengthening industrial facilities and production infrastructure in accordance with disaster scenarios is of vital importance as much as earthquake-resilient cities, and noted that as MÜSİAD they are ready to assume every kind of responsibility that falls to them.
Büyükakın: “We Act on Scientific Data”
Kocaeli Metropolitan Mayor Tahir Büyükakın touched upon the risk analyses and urban transformation projects carried out across the city and stated that hundreds of thousands of buildings in Kocaeli have been screened. Büyükakın said: “We are acting in line with scientific data in order to prepare Kocaeli for a safer future”.
Aktaş: “The Preparation Process Is at Least as Important as the Response”
Kocaeli Governor İlhami Aktaş, for his part, drew attention to the importance of preventive work in disaster management. Stating that inter-institutional coordination needs to be strengthened, Aktaş said: “The earthquake preparation process is as important as the response at the moment of the disaster”.
Minister Kurum: “We Have Started the Construction of 850,000 Independent Units”
Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Murat Kurum, who delivered the final speech of the program, shared up-to-date data on the work carried out after the 6 February 2023 earthquakes.
Kurum stated that the largest housing mobilization in history is being carried out simultaneously in the 11 provinces in the earthquake zone, noting that the construction process for approximately 850,000 independent units (dwellings, workplaces and village houses) has been launched.
Noting that the transformation of more than 3.5 million dwellings across Türkiye has been completed to date and that the transformation process of approximately 2 million dwellings is continuing, Kurum placed particular emphasis on the Marmara Region.
Saying, “We must rapidly renew our building stock in Marmara. We cannot wait for the earthquake; we must start the transformation today and continue it with determination”, Kurum stated that the process will be accelerated in urban transformation through financing support, rent assistance and new projects.
The Panel Lessons from 6 February to Marmara Was Held
Following the opening and protocol speeches, the program continued with the panel entitled “Türkiye's Earthquake Resilience: Lessons from 6 February to Marmara”.
While Ömer Kandemir moderated the panel, Housing Development Administration (TOKİ) Deputy President Ömer Caniklioğlu, Marmara Urban Transformation General Manager Sezayi Köse and Emlak Konut GYO Deputy General Manager Selami Keskin took part as panellists.
At the panel, the lessons drawn from the 6 February earthquakes, the transformation projects being carried out in the Marmara Region and the road map to be followed in the construction of earthquake-resilient cities were addressed.
The program came to an end with a family photo shoot.
The program “Türkiye's Earthquake Resilience: Lessons from 6 February to Marmara”, organized by the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) Construction and Building Materials Sector Board and hosted by the MÜSİAD Kocaeli Branch, was held at the Kocaeli Congress Centre with the participation of Republic of Türkiye Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Murat Kurum.
In addition to Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Murat Kurum, the program was attended by Kocaeli Governor İlhami Aktaş, Kocaeli Metropolitan Mayor Tahir Büyükakın, MÜSİAD President Burhan Özdemir, MÜSİAD Kocaeli Branch President İzzet Tanrıkulu, MÜSİAD Construction and Building Materials Sector Board Chairman Ömer Kandemir and numerous guests.
Tanrıkulu: “Earthquake-Resilient Cities Are Our Shared Responsibility”
MÜSİAD Kocaeli Branch President İzzet Tanrıkulu, who delivered the opening speech of the program, recalled that Türkiye is an earthquake country and said that the business world must take an active role in the production of safe buildings. Tanrıkulu said: “Building earthquake-resistant cities is no longer a choice but a necessity. The public and private sectors must join hands and accelerate the process”.
Kandemir: “Building Safety Cannot Be Neglected”
MÜSİAD Construction and Building Materials Sector Board Chairman Ömer Kandemir, for his part, stated that the 6 February earthquakes placed significant responsibilities on the sector. Emphasizing that strengthening inspection mechanisms, using quality materials and applying engineering standards without compromise are of vital importance, Kandemir made the following statement: “As a sector, we are ready to do our part for earthquake-resilient cities”.
Özdemir: “We Were in the Field with a Spirit of Solidarity”
MÜSİAD President Burhan Özdemir stated that the 6 February 2023 earthquakes left deep marks on the nation's memory, expressing that the destruction experienced affected not only physically but also seriously affected economic life, production and trade. Emphasizing that a strong spirit of social solidarity nevertheless emerged, Özdemir said that MÜSİAD was in the field with all its organizations from the moment of the earthquake and that members from all four corners of Türkiye mobilized. In this context, he noted that more than 3,000 aid trucks were delivered to the region and that food, water, basic necessities and logistical support were provided without interruption.
Stating that they carried out comprehensive work for social life to get back on its feet after the earthquake, Özdemir conveyed that hot meals were served daily to 10,000 citizens at the MÜSİAD Soup Kitchen established in Kahramanmaraş, that container living areas were completed in Elbistan and Adıyaman, and that a contribution was made to the field hospital in Hatay Defne. Noting also that a masjid was built in Elbistan and that the MÜSİAD-Kızılay Library and the MÜSİAD Health Centre were opened for service in cooperation with the Turkish Red Crescent, Özdemir stated that the Qard al-Hasan Fund was put into operation for the members and the regional business world affected by the earthquake and that interest-free support contributed to the revival of production.
Also drawing attention in his speech to the strong will demonstrated by the state, Özdemir said that, thanks to the work carried out under the leadership of the esteemed President and Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Murat Kurum, the delivery of 455,000 dwellings to their rightful owners in a short time is an exemplary success on a global scale. Stating that the earthquake zone has virtually turned into the world's largest construction site and that the organizational capability displayed has been met with admiration in international contacts, Özdemir emphasized that, in the specific case of the Marmara Region, strengthening industrial facilities and production infrastructure in accordance with disaster scenarios is of vital importance as much as earthquake-resilient cities, and noted that as MÜSİAD they are ready to assume every kind of responsibility that falls to them.
Büyükakın: “We Act on Scientific Data”
Kocaeli Metropolitan Mayor Tahir Büyükakın touched upon the risk analyses and urban transformation projects carried out across the city and stated that hundreds of thousands of buildings in Kocaeli have been screened. Büyükakın said: “We are acting in line with scientific data in order to prepare Kocaeli for a safer future”.
Aktaş: “The Preparation Process Is at Least as Important as the Response”
Kocaeli Governor İlhami Aktaş, for his part, drew attention to the importance of preventive work in disaster management. Stating that inter-institutional coordination needs to be strengthened, Aktaş said: “The earthquake preparation process is as important as the response at the moment of the disaster”.
Minister Kurum: “We Have Started the Construction of 850,000 Independent Units”
Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Murat Kurum, who delivered the final speech of the program, shared up-to-date data on the work carried out after the 6 February 2023 earthquakes.
Kurum stated that the largest housing mobilization in history is being carried out simultaneously in the 11 provinces in the earthquake zone, noting that the construction process for approximately 850,000 independent units (dwellings, workplaces and village houses) has been launched.
Noting that the transformation of more than 3.5 million dwellings across Türkiye has been completed to date and that the transformation process of approximately 2 million dwellings is continuing, Kurum placed particular emphasis on the Marmara Region.
Saying, “We must rapidly renew our building stock in Marmara. We cannot wait for the earthquake; we must start the transformation today and continue it with determination”, Kurum stated that the process will be accelerated in urban transformation through financing support, rent assistance and new projects.
The Panel Lessons from 6 February to Marmara Was Held
Following the opening and protocol speeches, the program continued with the panel entitled “Türkiye's Earthquake Resilience: Lessons from 6 February to Marmara”.
While Ömer Kandemir moderated the panel, Housing Development Administration (TOKİ) Deputy President Ömer Caniklioğlu, Marmara Urban Transformation General Manager Sezayi Köse and Emlak Konut GYO Deputy General Manager Selami Keskin took part as panellists.
At the panel, the lessons drawn from the 6 February earthquakes, the transformation projects being carried out in the Marmara Region and the road map to be followed in the construction of earthquake-resilient cities were addressed.
The program came to an end with a family photo shoot.
