İZBAŞ CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD EYÜP SEVİMLİ: "Free zones should compete abroad, not domestically"

İZBAŞ CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD EYÜP SEVİMLİ:
"Free zones should compete abroad, not domestically"

With an occupancy rate reaching 90 percent, İZBAŞ is one of the free zones that create added value at the highest scale in Türkiye and also hosts Europe's largest wind turbine blade factory.

Chairman of the Board Eyüp Sevimli, İzmir Free Zone (İZBAŞ), stated that free zones need mechanisms and public strategies that will enable them to compete in export markets with their high value-added products, not with each other.

Stating that they completed last year with a transaction volume of 1 billion 221 million dollars and exports of 548 million dollars, Sevimli stated that they ranked 10th in terms of transaction volume among the 19 free zones in Türkiye. Sevimli stated that his future goals include becoming a cluster center in the equipment production of the renewable energy industry.

47 percent of exports are to EU countries

Reminding that despite many factors negatively affecting the Turkish economy and exports, the transaction volume in the free zones in 2023 will be 31 billion dollars and exports will increase by 10.7% to 12.7 billion dollars, Sevimli said that 6 billion dollars, corresponding to 47 percent of these exports, will be transferred to the EU. He evaluated that its implementation in their country was a remarkable success.

Pointing out that free zones are special production bases that focus on exports and have a legislative structure with third country status, Eyüp Sevimli said, "When determining the areas declared as free zones; logistics and port infrastructure, production pattern and presence of sub-industry in the region, ease of access to qualified employment resources, qualified personnel." "We think that many parameters such as the existence of founding and operating companies equipped with the infrastructure should be taken into consideration. As İZBAŞ, we are very selective when meeting with potential investors; we pay attention to the fact that the investments to be made in our region will create the highest level of added value for our country and are knowledge, technology and capital intensive.".

İZBAŞ Chairman of the Board Eyüp Sevimli pointed out that free zones should be designed without hindering each other and with a creative strategy that is worthy of the country's exports.

A new strategy is needed

Adding that free zones should be designed without hindering each other and with a strategy that creates value for the country's exports, Sevimli made the following assessment: "Free zones function as the driving force of the export-based growth strategy all over the world. In our country, its history is approaching 40 years. We are among them, We have exemplary free zones that write success stories on an international scale. Our 19 free zones currently host 2,108 companies, 545 of which are foreign investors. Considering Türkiye's dynamic production and export potential, we know that it has a much higher potential than today. Our free zones can contribute to Türkiye's exports at a much higher level with their existing infrastructure quality, proximity to ports and logistics points, and sub-industry integration. "We need public strategies."

6 thousand 42 jobs in 205 companies

Stating that they brought the investment of Seawind, one of the world's leading catamaran manufacturers, to the region last year, Sevimli said, "The factory construction of Böllhoff, the world's leading fastener and industrial processing systems manufacturer, continues. In addition to this factory, which will export 100 percent of its production, our existing companies "There are many capacity increase and expansion investments. The total employment provided in İZBAŞ, where 205 companies, 178 domestic, 17 foreign and 10 with domestic and foreign capital, operate and has 90 percent occupancy, is at the level of 6 thousand 42," he said.

The road problem has been waiting for a solution for years. The transportation problem of İZBAŞ, which hosts Europe's largest wind turbine blade factory, to the ring road has been waiting for an urgent solution. While the single-lane road extending from Izmir ring road to Seyrek Junction, which is 16 kilometers away, sees heavy vehicle traffic during the day, it also creates difficulties in transportation of the giant wind turbine blades produced in IZBAŞ to Izmir and Aliaga ports. Eyüp Sevimli said that they have not been able to get any results so far to solve the problem they have in accessing the ring road with the wings exceeding 80 meters in length, and that their negotiations are continuing with all relevant public institutions, especially the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.