TÜSİAD organized a seminar titled “Turkish Industry and Sectoral Approaches: Strategy for the Chemical Industry”, on September 19th 2012, in Izmir. Mr. Nihat Ergün, Minister of Science, Industry and Technology was also present at the seminar where Chemical Industry Strategy Document prepared by the ministry was launched.
The seminar began with the welcoming speech of Mr. Nezih Barut, President of Sectoral Policies Committee of TÜSİAD. Opening addresses of the meeting were made by Mr. Nihat Ergün, Minister of Science, Industry and Technology and by Ms Ümit Boyner, President of the Board of Directors of TÜSİAD.
Ms. Ümit Boyner emphasized the special importance of the chemical industry which supplies inputs to numerous other industries. Ms. Boyner remarked that the chemical industry surpassed the automotive industry in 2011 to lead Turkey’s exports and she expressed that, “despite these high export figures, the sector currently runs a current account deficit around 25 billion dollars, largely due to the fact that the industry imports around %70 of the required raw materials.” Ms. Boyner stressed the importance of introducing a healthier and more efficient structure for the chemical industry, which currently generates a major portion of Turkey’s current account deficit, energy excluded. She stated that “the formation of a new mindset initiated by the Industrial Strategy and Action Plans, and the direct linkages established between the current account deficit and industrial policy, are absolutely essential for solving the problem (of current deficit).”
The first session of the seminar moderated by Mr. Agah Uğur, the president of the Industrial Policies Forum of TÜSİAD discussed industrial strategy. “The Development of the Turkish Industry and the Chemical Industry Strategy Document” prepared by the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology was presented for the first time to the public. Mr. Mehmet Pekarun, President of the Executive Committee of the Sabanci University-TÜSİAD Competitiveness Forum and Mr. Süfyan Emiroğlu, General Director of Industry at the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology made a presentation.
The second session titled “Sectoral Approaches to the Industry in Turkey: the Chemical Industry” was moderated by Mr. Timur Erk, President of the Federation of Industrial Associations (SEDEFED) and the Turkish Chemical Manufacturers Association (TKSD).
In this session Mr. Simone Kaslowski, President of Chemical Industry Task Force of TÜSİAD, Mr. Mehmet Hayati Öztürk, General Manager of the Petkim Petrokimya Holding A.Ş, Mr. Mustafa Yılmaz, Member of the Board of Directors of Aksa Akrilik Kimya San. A.Ş., Mr. İhsan Necipoğlu, General Manager of the Dow Turkey, Mr. Süfyan Emiroğlu, General Director of Industry at the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology and Ms. Aysun Memişoğlu, Advisor at the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology shared their opinions with their speeches.