IZBAS FOCUSES ON CLEAN ENERGY SECTOR WITH NEW GROWTH AREA

Izmir Free Zone (İZBAŞ), which is on its way to becoming a clustering center for companies operating in the renewable energy sector in both the main and sub-industries, aims to strengthen its position in this field with its new expansion area. After reaching a 90% occupancy rate, İZBAŞ is implementing its first-phase growth projection. By purchasing a 153,000-square-meter plot of land, which borders its existing area, İZBAŞ will expand the space allocated for investments by 10%.

Eyüp Sevimli, Chairman of the Board of İZBAŞ Izmir Free Zone Founders and Operators Inc., reminded that the region, which hosts the largest wind turbine blade factory in Turkey and Europe, has a vision for the future that includes becoming one of the renewable energy sector's hubs.

İZBAŞ: Close to Skilled Workforce

Sevimli stated that the necessary bureaucratic processes for incorporating the newly purchased land into the free zone are progressing quickly. "With our expansion area, we are working to bring another excellently planned production site with outstanding infrastructure to Izmir and the Turkish economy. Investor interest in İZBAŞ is pushing us to move forward with our growth plans," he said.

He highlighted the need for more planned and fully infrastructured industrial zones dedicated to new investments in İzmir, which is considered the capital of Clean Energy. Sevimli reminded that İzmir is among the cities with the highest installed capacity for renewable and clean energy sources, particularly wind energy.

Emphasizing the high added value of production in this sector, Sevimli also pointed out that it creates a demand for a skilled workforce. He made the following statement:

"With its continuous growth in investments and its status as one of Turkey’s leading cities, İzmir, as the second free zone, is directly addressing the investment interests of both local and foreign capital firms focused on export. The most crucial issue for these companies is ease of access to skilled labor. Along with our perfectly operating infrastructure and investor-friendly skilled teams, one of our significant comparative advantages is our easy access to a qualified workforce. With the added value we create, our strategic location, our sustainable investment climate, and our investor-friendly business environment, we are confidently advancing to become one of the country's most important export centers."

Investment Climate Must Improve

Eyüp Sevimli emphasized that investments in clean energy sources not only reduce Turkey’s dependence on foreign energy but also represent the most crucial element in the country’s transition to sustainable energy.

He noted that in today’s world, it is becoming increasingly difficult for non-environmentally friendly production methods to compete in the global market. He said: "The presence of strong investors and a supporting sub-industry in İzmir, in particular, is one of the country’s competitive advantages. However, the only issue we face arises from problems in the country’s investment climate."

Sevimli added that being a part of the value chain in the energy sector with local and competitive production is just as important as ensuring clean energy. He continued:

“We see it as vital to frequently express our thoughts and analyses to the authorities in decision-making and legislative positions, especially for the value-added production future of the Turkish economy. With the potential we have in wind and solar energy alone, we could supply energy for at least four countries in Turkey. İzmir, with its land-based wind industry and offshore (offshore) energy technologies, could also become Turkey’s undisputed leader in this area. There is no reason why İzmir shouldn’t be a production and export hub in this field, which we are at the zero point of. Our human resources, the financial strength of our companies, and our technological integration are all excellent. As İZBAŞ, our future projections also include specialized investments in this field."