Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) Launches SME Export Mobilization in Eskişehir

TİM President Gülle: Eskişehir, a 'Defence and Aviation' Brand The Turkish Exporters Assembly's (TİM) "SME Export Mobilisation Training Programme," designed to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to participate in exports, was held in-person in Eskişehir. The programme opening, which drew significant interest, was conducted by Eskişehir Governor Erol Ayyıldız and TİM President İsmail Gülle. At the programme, awards were presented to companies in Eskişehir that achieved the highest export volumes and highest value-added exports in the previous year. Turkish exporters, field representatives of Turkey's economy and trade diplomacy, achieved exports from Eskişehir to 147 countries and regions this year. Speaking at the programme opening, TİM President İsmail Gülle drew attention to Eskişehir's successful export performance, stating: "Investments in our country are increasing day by day. In some of our sectors, order density has risen 2-3 times above current capacity. With our performance this year, we are moving forward with confident steps toward breaking the Republic era record in Eskişehir. In the first 10 months of 2021, the city's exports rose to USD 924 million, an increase of 25 percent compared to the same period of the previous year. Eskişehir has become a brand city, particularly in the Defence and Aviation sector. Our sector achieved USD 246 million in exports in the first 10 months of the year with a 12 percent increase in Eskişehir. Eskişehir is also our 11th city with the furthest export reach at an average export distance of 4,351 kilometres," he said. The Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), which works for Turkey's economic growth and serves as the single umbrella organisation for 61 exporter associations, 27 sectors and over 100,000 exporters, continues its "SME Export Mobilisation Training Programmes." The latest training session, through which small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to engage in exports, was held in-person for Eskişehir. Participants received information on how to become an exporter, how to benefit from export support schemes and various topics related to export financing.

Awards presented to top exporting companies from Eskişehir

The programme, organised at Eskişehir Anadolu University and which drew significant interest, was opened by Eskişehir Governor Erol Ayyıldız and TİM President İsmail Gülle. TİM Brand Council members, Young TİM members and İnovaTİM students also attended the event. At the programme, awards were also presented to the 10 companies with the highest export volumes from Eskişehir in 2020 and to the company with the highest value-added exports. TUSAŞ Motor Sanayii A.Ş. ranked at the top among the award-winning companies.

"We will reach every company in Anatolia with export potential"

Speaking at the programme opening, TİM President İsmail Gülle highlighted the importance of the TİM SME Export Mobilisation programme. Noting that they aim to reach every company with export potential in all corners of Anatolia through training sessions, Gülle said: "As the export family, we and our over 100,000 exporters are running from target to target; we continuously move towards new horizons in our exports. For our successes to be permanent, we must expand the export family further. Because in our view, exports should not be the pursuit of only a certain segment or group; they should be the vision of all our companies, large and small, with the aim of comprehensive development. In line with this vision, we brought our TİM SME Export Mobilisation to Eskişehir this month," he said.

"Over 37,000 companies joined our export family in two years"

Noting that all concerns about exports found answers in the training programme, Gülle stated: "Approximately two years have passed since our first training programme. During this period, over 37,000 new companies joined the export family. Over the past two years, we have organised 17 TİM SME Export Mobilisation trainings, 16 in our country and one in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. We designed our training programmes for three target audiences. First, company representatives who currently have their own businesses and want to engage in export activities. Second, companies that want to ensure continuous export growth. Third, young entrepreneurs. In the trainings we conduct, our experts in their respective fields share their knowledge and experience with our companies and entrepreneurs on many topics," he said.

"In some of our sectors, order density is 3 times above current capacity"

Emphasising that Turkey's path in exports is clear and that in some sectors order density has risen 2-3 times above current capacity, TİM President Gülle stated: "Investments in our country are increasing day by day. We also invite our Eskişehir companies to join our export family and add value to this national wealth. Inshallah, with today's training programme, we are sincerely confident that we will increase our current exports further," he said.

USD 924 million in exports from Eskişehir in the first 10 months

Underlining Eskişehir's export success, İsmail Gülle continued: The figures show that Eskişehir is achieving significant success with its solid infrastructure, innovative production approach and continuously rising export volume. With an average export distance of 4,351 kilometres, it ranks as our 11th city with the furthest export reach. In 2020, when world trade experienced significant contraction due to the pandemic, the province's exports exceeded USD 927 million. With this year's performance, we are advancing with confident steps towards breaking the Republic era record. In the first 10 months of 2021, Eskişehir's exports reached USD 924 million, an increase of 25 percent compared to the same period of the previous year. We see that Eskişehir's exporters are performing particularly successfully in exports to the United States and Europe. Eskişehir exporters achieved USD 259 million in exports to the US, USD 91 million to France and USD 81 million to Germany. This year we increased our exports to the US by USD 35 million, to France by USD 33 million and to Germany by USD 18 million. Eskişehir achieved exports to 147 countries and regions. It is also our 20th province in terms of export volume. Looking at the sectoral basis, the top three sectors with the highest export volumes from Eskişehir are: Defence and Aviation (USD 246 million), Chemicals (USD 127 million) and Machinery Parts (USD 105 million). These three sectors account for 52 percent of the province's exports.

Made its mark in the Defence and Aviation sector

Stating that Eskişehir particularly holds the title of brand city in the Defence and Aviation sector, Gülle continued: "Eskişehir, which conducts the most defence industry exports after Istanbul and Ankara, is seeing rising exports in this field. This year, there is approximately a 12 percent increase compared to the previous year. In the first 10 months, Eskişehir exported products in 1,982 categories, reaching quite a significant figure. The province's top five exported products are turbojets, plastic products, magnesia, aircraft and helicopter parts and iron and steel materials.

How do SMEs become brands?

Following the opening speeches, TİM President İsmail Gülle moderated a panel entitled "How Do SMEs Become Brands?" The heavily attended panel included Eskişehir Governor Erol Ayyıldız, Eskişehir Chamber of Industry President Celalettin Kesikbaş, Eskişehir Organised Industrial Zone President Nadir Küpeli, TAV Board Member Mehmet Erdoğan, TUSAŞ Motor Sanayii A.Ş Board Chairman Prof. Dr. Mahmut F. Akşit, ETİ Gıda Executive Board and Export Group Chairman Erdinç Ayhan and TİM Women's Council Vice-Chair Sultan Tepe.

TUSAŞ Motor Sanayii at the top

At the programme, awards were presented to the top 10 companies with the highest exports from Eskişehir in the previous year and to the company with the highest value-added exports. TUSAŞ Motor Sanayii A.Ş. ranked at the top as Eskişehir's export champion. ANOT Endüstri ve Ticaret A.Ş. also received the award for highest value-added exports. The top 10 companies that received awards for achieving the highest exports in the previous year are as follows: 1. TUSAŞ MOTOR SANAYİİ A.Ş. 2. ALP HAVACILIK SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. 3. EUROPEN DIŞ TİCARET A.Ş. 4. ETİ GIDA SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. 5. MAGNESİT A.Ş. 6. YURTBAY SERAMİK SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. 7. KOREL ELEKTRONİK SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. 8. ROCA TR BANYO A.Ş. 9. ERAY PLASTİK DOĞRAMA SAN. VE TİC. LTD. ŞTİ. 10. HİSARLAR İTHALAT İHRACAT PAZARLAMA A.Ş. Highest value-added exports award: ANOT Endüstri ve Ticaret A.Ş.