Introductory Meeting Held for Türkiye Green Industry Project

A presentation and information meeting on Turkey's Green Industry Project was held online, hosted by the Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Association (İKMİB). The Turkey Green Industry Project, conducted under the coordination of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Industry and Technology, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development and Support Administration (KOSGEB), and the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), and supported by the World Bank, was presented at an online meeting hosted by İKMİB on 16 January 2024. The presentation meeting was attended by İKMİB Board Chairman Adil Pelister, Ministry of Industry and Technology Deputy Director General of Industry Dr. Ali Murat Sürekli, TÜBİTAK Technology and Innovation Support Programs (TEYDEB) Vice Chairman Dr. Alp Eren Yurtseven, Ministry of Industry and Technology Industry General Directorate Industry and Technology Specialist Özkan Özkara, KOSGEB SME Expert Assistant Kutay Kaan Önal, TÜBİTAK Chief Scientific Programs Specialist Dr. Çiğdem Okutan, as well as sector representatives from İKMİB member companies. The "Turkey Green Industry Project" with a budget of USD 450 million aims to support industrialists, entrepreneurs and SMEs in their efficient green transition. Through the newly implemented KOSGEB Green Industry Support Program, SMEs will receive support of up to TRY 14 million for installation of solar energy systems within their facilities. Green transition projects focused on energy, water and raw material efficiency, and sustainable and climate-resilient waste recycling will receive support of up to TRY 4 million. With TÜBİTAK support, companies engaged in green production, R&D and innovation activities aimed at higher energy and resource efficiency, as well as private sector-led collaborations will be supported. The chemicals, plastics and fertilizer sectors, which are among the 6 sectors focused on under the "Green Growth Technology Roadmap", can apply to the project.

"As İKMİB, we are ready for collaboration on green transition and green economy"

In his opening remarks, Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Association (İKMİB) Chairman Adil Pelister stated that as İKMİB they have prepared a sustainability action plan report that will shed light on the future of the chemical sector, and said: "The European Green Deal, green economy, digital transformation, Industry 4.0, Society 5.0, and similar topics that we have been discussing since the beginning of the 2000s and will continue to discuss from today until 2050, are all built on 'Sustainability' as a foundation. 'Ecology and Economy' are now intertwined... In this context, it is also important that the green and circular economy be fed with environmentally friendly technologies. As İKMİB, given that the chemical sector touches other sectors, we are open to all kinds of developments in the context of sustainability, green transition and green economy. Especially so that SME enterprises can successfully carry out all of these transformations, we wholeheartedly support the Turkey Green Industry Project initiated under the leadership of our Ministry of Industry and Technology, in coordination with KOSGEB and TÜBİTAK, and supported by the World Bank. We are ready to do whatever falls to us for it to be successful. We believe that especially our SME enterprises and exporters, which have limited access to such support, should benefit from these supports, and we as İKMİB offer our thanks to all institutions, organizations and professional civil society organizations that have pioneered this, launched the support program and contributed to it," he said. Ministry of Industry and Technology Deputy Director General of Industry Dr. Ali Murat Sürekli stated in his remarks: "Our project, which will run for 6 years and has a total budget of USD 450 million, also includes inter-institutional collaboration. It is being conducted in partnership between our General Directorate, KOSGEB and TÜBİTAK. This project, whose core objectives are based on circular economy principles to enable our companies, primarily in manufacturing, to benefit from the power of renewable energy, to develop energy-efficient technologies and to adopt circular economy principles, will also promote economic growth." he said. TÜBİTAK Technology and Innovation Support Programs (TEYDEB) Vice Chairman Dr. Alp Eren Yurtseven also said: "Within the scope of the project, as TÜBİTAK we also support the private sector's product and process development activities aimed at green transition. TÜBİTAK has many different support mechanisms for the private sector. The support programs we conduct predominantly include grant-based mechanisms. Under our program called 'Repayable Loan and Grant Support Program for Industrial R&D Projects', we can issue different calls. Within this scope, we have issued 3 calls: the Green Innovation Technology Mentorship Call, the Industrial Green Transition Call, and the Industrial R&D and Innovation Networks (SAYEM) Green Transition Call," he said. The Turkey Green Industry Project presentation meeting concluded following the opening remarks with informative presentations delivered by representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Technology, KOSGEB and TÜBİTAK.