"2021 Turkey Chemical Industry Council" Completed

The "2021 Turkey Chemistry Sector Convention" organized by the Chemistry Sector Platform (KSP) and held under the presidency of the Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Association (İKMİB), took place digitally on 12-13 March with the participation of the Minister of Industry and Technology, Minister of Trade, representatives from public and private sectors, associations and NGOs, and academics from universities. It was followed by more than 1,500 people. Over two days, many important issues were addressed in the chemistry sector, which brings together approximately 70,000 different types of products across 16 sub-sectors under the platform's umbrella. At the 2021 Turkey Chemistry Sector Convention, where developments, expectations and targets in the sector were discussed, the strategic importance of chemistry for the economy, trade and human life was emphasized. It was stated that the chemistry sector, which produces raw materials and semi-finished products for all locomotive sectors in the world, plays a key role in industry and should be addressed as state policy in Turkey's future projection. Adil Pelister, Chairman of the Chemistry Sector Platform and İKMİB Board of Directors, said: "As all stakeholders of the chemistry sector, we aim to establish a 'National Chemistry Agency' with the support and incentives provided by our state and the power of public-university-private sector collaboration. We believe that with the Chemistry Technology Center and National Chemistry Agency, the Turkish chemistry sector will move to the next level in creating high value-added products." The 2021 Turkey Chemistry Sector Convention held on 12-13 March 2021 was attended by Turkey's Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank, Turkey's Minister of Trade Ruhsar Pekcan, Turkish Exporters Council (TİM) Chairman İsmail Gülle, Chemistry Sector Platform (KSP) Chairman and İKMİB Board of Directors Chairman Adil Pelister, Turkey's Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Turkey's Deputy Minister of Trade Rıza Tuna Turagay and Turkey's Deputy Minister of Trade Gonca Yılmaz Batur, along with leading representatives of the sector.

On the first day of the Turkey Chemistry Sector Convention, held every two years by the Chemistry Sector Platform, which brings together 36 leading institutions of the sector with chemical exporters associations, unions, chambers, federations, foundations, associations and universities, after the opening speeches, TOBB Chemistry Industry Council Chairman Timur Erk, Turkey Chemical, Petroleum, Rubber and Plastics Industry Employers Union Chairman Levent Kocagül, Turkey Chemistry Association Chairman Prof. Dr. Bahattin Yalçın, Plastics Manufacturers Federation Chairman Ömer Karadeniz, Plastics Manufacturers Association Chairman Selçuk Gülsün, Turkish Plastics Manufacturers Research, Development and Training Foundation Chairman Yavuz Eroğlu, Flexible Packaging Manufacturers Association Chairman Fahri Özer, Packaging Manufacturers Association Chairman Mustafa Zeki Sarıbekir, Rubber Association Vice Chairman Fahriye Yüksel, Turkey Chemical Manufacturers Association Chairman Haluk Erceber, Turkey Pharmaceutical Industry Association Chairman Hasan Ulusoy, Turkey Health Industry Employers Union Chairman Metin Demir, Paints Manufacturers Association Chairman Mehmet Akın Akçalı, Industrial Oil, Petroleum Products Manufacturers Association Chairman Tayfun Koçak, Composite Manufacturers Association Chairman Barış Pakiş, Cosmetics and Cleaning Products Manufacturers Association Chairman Ahmet Gündoğdu Pura and Aerosol Manufacturers Association Chairman S. Özgür Öztürk addressed the sector's problems and solution proposals.

Speaking at the closing of the 2021 Turkey Chemistry Sector Convention, Chemistry Sector Platform (KSP) Chairman and İKMİB Board of Directors Chairman Adil Pelister said: "Over two days, with our highly valued participants and panelists, very important issues were addressed. From the large-scale investment needs in our sector to the support and incentives that should be provided, from facilitating access to financing to logistics and supply issues, from the digitalization journey to Customs Union revision and its reflection on foreign trade, from the European Green Deal to the circular economy, we evaluated the management of sustainability in the chemistry sector together with our esteemed experts, as well as industry-university collaboration. Topics including the increase of company capitals, provision of a trust environment, clarification of predictability, establishment of integrated facilities, and the need to realize petrochemical investments that have been expected especially over the last 10 years, and perhaps the establishment of a Petrochemical Initiative Group were put on the agenda. There were demands regarding the importance and necessity of localization in pharmaceuticals, and specifically the issue that licenses have not been granted for nearly 2,600 pharmaceutical production applications made to the Ministry of Health. The need for support of strategic investments, improvement of the investment environment, protection of employment, and meeting the need for qualified personnel were emphasized." Pelister, noting that work on the European Green Deal, carbon border adjustment, sustainability climate law, chemicals strategy for sustainability, and especially REACH 2.0 has begun in Europe, said: "We see that the Green Deal, sustainability, investments and indeed every issue has the importance that would warrant a separate Convention. The chemistry sector has a long road ahead. Therefore, having a directorate general or deputy director general position related to chemistry within our Ministry of Industry to enable more integrated work with our Ministries will allow our chemistry sector to be more active in the projects it will carry out in the coming years. Particularly, our recommendation as the Chemistry Sector Platform, the establishment of a National Chemistry Agency is of great importance. As all stakeholders of the chemistry sector, we aim to establish a 'National Chemistry Agency' with the support and incentives provided by our state and the power of public-university-private sector collaboration. We believe that with the Chemistry Technology Center and National Chemistry Agency, the Turkish chemistry sector will move to the next level in creating high value-added products. If possible, the establishment of a Chemistry Technology Valley would also be an important development for the future of our sector."

Seven sessions held over two days

At the 2021 Turkey Chemistry Sector Convention attended by representatives from public and private sectors, NGOs and academic speakers and guests, the present and future of the sector were addressed in 7 sessions held over two days. In the first session moderated by Prof. Dr. Emre Alkin, with panelists TOBB Chemistry Industry Council Chairman Timur Erk, Turkey Chemical Manufacturers Association Board of Directors Chairman Haluk Erceber and Turkey Wealth Fund Advisor M. Hayati Öztürk, the effects of the pandemic on the world and Turkish chemistry sector and future expectations were evaluated.

In the second session moderated by Dünya Newspaper Board of Directors Chairman Hakan Güldağ, Turkey's Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Head of Overseas Operations Department of Turkey's Presidential Investment Office Furkan Karayaka and İKMİB Board of Directors Chairman Adil Pelister addressed the investment needs of Turkish chemical industry. In the third session moderated by İKMİB General Secretary Dr. S. Armağan Vurdu, where the chemistry sector's foreign trade, financing, logistics and digitalization issues were discussed, the panelists were Turkey's Deputy Minister of Trade Rıza Tuna Turagay, Eximbank Deputy General Manager Enis Gültekin, TAV Airports Holding Executive Board Chairman Sani Şener and AliExpress Turkey CEO Yaman Alpata.

In the fourth and final session of the day, moderated by Ciner Media Group London Representative Cüneyt Başaran, with panelists Turkey's Deputy Minister of Trade Gonca Yılmaz Batur, DEİK/Turkey-UK Business Council Chairman Osman Okyay and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Nas Türk, General Secretary of the Economic Development Foundation, the issue of Customs Union revision and the effects of trade agreements on the chemistry sector was discussed. The fifth session, held on the second day of the Convention and with panelists Turkey's Deputy Undersecretary of International Agreements and EU at the Ministry of Trade Bahar Güçlü, Founder Director of the Finance Corporate Governance and Sustainability Center Prof. Dr. Güler Aras and TKSD Board of Directors Treasurer Member Dr. Derya Erçıkan, was held under the moderation of İKMİB Board of Directors Member Ahmet Faik Bitlis, and the effects of the European Green Deal on the chemistry sector were evaluated. Subsequently, in the sixth session moderated by Istanbul Technical University Faculty Member; Sustainable Production and Consumption Association Chairman Prof. Dr. Filiz Karaosmanoğlu, with panelists Business World and Sustainable Development Association (SKD Turkey) General Secretary Konca Çalkıvik, BOSAD Vice President, Sustainability Working Group Chairman, BASF Turkey General Manager Rami Atikoğlu and BİYOKOOP Founder Chairman Erdinç İkizoğlu, the issue of sustainability management in the chemistry sector was addressed. In the seventh and final session of the Convention moderated by Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Gürkaynak, with panelists TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, Koç University Rector Prof. Dr. Umran S. İnan, Scaleup London - Executive Partner Mehmet Alpatlı and İKMİB Board of Directors Chairman Adil Pelister, the issue of collaboration between chemical industry and universities was addressed.