OSTİM Rubber Technologies Cluster elected its new board of directors and supervisory board at its 2nd Ordinary General Assembly. The General Assembly emphasized the importance of technology development and access to raw material resources for the sector.
At the opening of the General Assembly, which was also attended by Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO) President Nurettin Özdebir and Provincial Director of the Labor and Employment Agency Talip Altuğ, Cluster Coordinator Dr. Kayhan Olancak shared the activity report.
Quality Raw Materials for Quality Products
Olanca stated that training activities for members have intensified in the past period, and that steps have been taken to expand the foreign trade network as a result. Kayhan Olanca reported that the support from the Turkish Ministry of Economy has provided significant opportunities for the cluster. Explaining that they also conduct joint studies with clusters abroad, Olanca said, “The issue of raw materials is very important for us. If we are going to produce and export quality products, we need to access quality and inexpensive raw materials.”
“High Value-Added Products Emerge from Clusters”
Cluster Board Chairman Prof. Dr. Ziya Burhanettin Güvenç emphasized that innovation emerges from healthy clusters. Underlining that innovation will not emerge from newly established, developing clusters, Güvenç stated, “It is very difficult to bring a new idea to life and establish it permanently in the market. Even if it does, it will be immediately imitated. Because it lacks the technology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics behind it. What a single company can do alone is very limited. High value-added products only emerge from clusters.”
İŞKUR Support Programs Explained
Talip Altuğ, the Provincial Director of the Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR), spoke about the support the government provides to employers. Sharing information about the On-the-Job Training program, Altuğ stated, “The support rate, which was 10% in December, will increase to 50% as of January 2016. You can hire up to 10% of your workforce. For one year, İŞKUR pays the minimum wage, taxes, and insurance for the hired personnel. You only need to employ them. A workplace with 100 employees can currently hire 10 people.”
“Technology Development in the Sector is Necessary”
ASO President Nurettin Özdebir stated that joint procurement is possible. Özdebir expressed the following views: “You can undertake a project together, share the workload, and deliver it much faster. We can meet your technology needs by coming together and establishing joint laboratories. KOSGEB also provides support in this regard. Rubber is used in every aspect of life; from medicine to car tires. We need to develop this technology and produce higher value-added products.”
At the General Assembly, two companies from the cluster shared their success stories. Ufuk Bayraktar, Chairman of the Board of AksaPark, which exports to 61 countries, and Vedat Yakuboğlu, Chairman of the Board of Yakuboğlu Deri Sanayi, which is among the top 300 companies in the top 500 list and sends products to more than 50 countries, shared the details of their business journeys.
Following the 2nd Ordinary General Assembly, the Board of Directors and Supervisory Board were formed with the following members:
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Prof. Dr. Ziya Burhanettin Güvenç, Akman Karakülah (Babacan Kauçuk), Turan Değirmenci (Gülhan Yedekparça), Adife Aykaç (Naturel Kauçuk), Emira İpek (Emin İpek Kauçuk), Yusuf Ziya Korkmaz (Özdekan Kauçuk), Kadir Erdal (Erdal Kauçuk), Fatih Üren (Ören Kauçuk), Vedat Yakupoğlu (Yakupoğlu Deri Sanayii), Ufuk Bayraktar (Aksapark Kent Mobilyaları), Yunus Karakaş (Büyük Anadolu Kauçuk)
SUPERVISORY BOARD: Osman Keskinkayaer (Zafer Kauçuk), Ezgin Öğünç Durhan (Tambursan), Fatma Akdağ (Akdağ Kauçuk)
Photos
