A business that started with one shop, grew to five, and continues with today's large enterprises… Halim Öztürk is an industrialist who started his business life in Ankara's Akköprü district and continued it for many years in OSTİM. Öztürk describes OSTİM as, "For us industrialists, for Ankara, it is an incubator. We reproduced here, we multiplied here, we grew here."
Halim Öztürk recounted his apprenticeship years, or as he puts it, his 'golden bracelet' (a metaphor for finding the right skills), his arrival in OSTİM, the six months he spent without work, and in short, how he got to where he is today.
Can we get to know you?
I was born in Çubuk, Ankara in 1946. We have been living in Ankara since 1960; we are from a village. We came to Ankara from the village. In our time, as soon as children finished primary school, they would grow up and be immediately sent somewhere: "Go to the factory, find your golden bracelet!"
It was already considered too late, wasn't it?
Yes. It was already considered too late. Now we can't even send 12-year-old children to the grocery store to buy bread… In those years, the industrial center was Akköprü in Ankara. May he rest in peace; my late father entrusted us to an acquaintance. He said, "The flesh is yours, the bones are mine. It's out of my hands now, it's yours." What else could you do? You couldn't go back to the village. If you returned, you would be humiliated; you would have given up, you would have run away.
We sent him off to the village saying, "Father, may your path be clear. May God help us too." We found him a job; then, until he went to the army, we changed our second workplace. After returning from the army, by God's grace, we established our life by owning 25% of our third workplace. We went through difficult times; there were ups and downs, revolutions, anarchy, and we came from those days to today. We started with an army of two; now we have a staff of around 70 people. Our residential address is in Sincan Organized Industrial Zone, and our business address is in OSTİM.
What was your first job?
The metal and steel goods sector. We worked for a company that supplied the State Supply Office; we made tables, chairs, and cabinets from sheet metal… We worked 24 hours a day; there was no concept of time, no days off, no rest. We'd come in at eight in the morning. At night, the foreman would tell us to leave whenever he felt like it. Thank God, if we hadn't lived through those days, we wouldn't have what we have today. I did this job until I went to the army. I returned, worked at the same address for a short time, and received a profit-sharing offer. After working for about three years with a 10% profit-sharing agreement, we formed a four-partner company with a 25% share. We brought this company to 1980. After 1980, it didn't work out. It was a difficult year for Turkey.
After parting ways with the other partners, we came to OSTİM with two partners acquiring 50% of the company's assets. If I remember correctly, it was either the 19th or 20th shop. The back areas were unopened, a sea of mud, still under construction… The busiest street was the first street. Trucks and other vehicles could move there. Trucks couldn't enter these areas; there were no roads, it was a sea of mud.
Did you come to OSTİM to rent?
Yes. 20 lira rent… We didn't hammer a single nail in six months. There was a revolution in the country. There's a crisis, no work.
Where we worked, we were practically in the basement. We had no outside network, we didn't know anyone. We produced, the other partners sold, bought, transported, and moved things. When we separated, we were left completely alone. My partner and I worked in manufacturing. We didn't know who to sell to or who to buy from. God will surely open a door for us. Sustenance comes from Him; we will seek it, we will ask for it, and He will give it to us. Our sustenance is already allocated, as long as we ask honestly. God helped us.
Did you do the same work?
We worked in the metal sector again. But that table and chair business is over… We are now pursuing contracting work with the automotive sub-industry. For example, we are still a sub-industry supplier for Türk Traktör today.
1 SHOP BECAME 5 SHOPS
Were the situations of the companies that moved to OSTİM in those years all similar to yours?
80% were, it was a difficult period. OSTİM was new, nobody knew about OSTİM. Maybe 50% of Ankara had never even seen the area; it was outside the city… There was a stream in Macunköy. Water flowed, but cars couldn't pass through there. There was only one minibus. There were days when we took off our boots and walked from the trunk. There were no telephones, there was only a booth where İş Bankası is now.
We remained in the same rented space until 1994. Then God blessed us with a shop. After that, another shop came our way. In 1994, we moved to our current location on 57th Street. It was huge. We came from spaces of 25-30 square meters. When we saw a 200 square meter space in OSTİM, we said, "Wow, it's like a football field, how are we going to fill this space?" But God filled it.
That wasn't enough, so we bought another place on 29th Street. And that wasn't enough either, so we secured two shops side-by-side on 40th Street. Then a shop across from us on 57th Street became vacant. That makes five. While we couldn't even fill one shop, and waited six months, we reaped the rewards of patience, gratitude, and determination.
Meanwhile, OSTİM started to fill up…
OSTİM began to develop and its voice began to be heard. Our workload increased. We started working from 8 am to 12 am. Our number of employees increased; from eight to ten, then fifteen… Just as a child is born and grows, so too do businesses; they are born, walk, and run with the same logic. We continued our manufacturing in OSTİM until 2000.
We made a pact with our partner, saying "From cradle to grave." In this endeavor, we continued on our path with the philosophy of "First work, then spouse, then food." We adopted the idea that "There is no separation. Strength comes from unity; we will be strong if we stand shoulder to shoulder. We will have competitive advantage and reputation."
My partner passed away in 1993. On his deathbed, he said, "Take care of my children." We already had a prior agreement, so what do you do when you receive such a will? I'm continuing with his children. I have three sons and one daughter. My daughter works elsewhere, and all my sons are in charge of the business.
We love OSTİM. We were practically born here. We extend our sincere thanks to the OSTİM management team, starting with Cevat Dündar, then Turan Çiğdem, and now Orhan Aydın and his entire team. OSTİM is a breeding ground for us industrialists and for Ankara. We bred here, multiplied here, grew here. We built our networks here. And by God's grace, we are still at the helm of our businesses today, and our health is good. We wish the current OSTİM management continued success and pray for the souls of those who have passed away.
“NOTHING CAN BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT UNITY”
What do you see in OSTİM now?
OSTİM has grown a lot. May God grant patience, strength, and determination to the current administration. OSTİM is no longer confined to its shell; its responsibilities have increased. It has produced great industrialists. It has nurtured great doyens and great wise men. And it continues to do so.
Why did you move your manufacturing facility to Sincan?
Five separate shops in five different areas… You're moving the business. When you move the production line, you have to move the entire operation. This increases costs and reduces competitiveness. That's why being under one roof is important. Initially, we went to a 2,500 square meter area. Over time, that wasn't enough either. Now we have a business with 18,800 square meters of land and 11,000 square meters of covered space. When we saw 25, then 200, we got excited and said, "This will take us to new heights." Thank God, it did. It's impossible not to be grateful.
Our exports are mainly to the Middle East. Apart from that, we don't have much export in the metal sector; our exports are indirect. We act as a subcontractor for exports. We supply our products to the Türk Traktör factory, they go directly to the banding line, and a tractor is assembled there.
What is your view on clustering?
Essentially, I subscribe to the philosophy of 'strength in unity.' Nothing can be achieved without unity. Unity brings prosperity. Everyone is trying to fend for themselves. We are impatient. We need to make quick decisions and take swift action to achieve results as soon as possible. Because we have no time to lose, life is short. If you don't use your time wisely, it's a waste; it's very valuable.
What advice would you give to industrialists and young people who want to work in industry?
Patience, patience, patience. They must love their work. If they don't love it, they shouldn't get involved in it at all. They must respect their colleagues and their work, set their goals high, and strive to reach them. They must have a goal.
THE KEY TO SUCCESS: PATIENCE AND A GOAL
Having been involved with industry for over 50 years, Halim Öztürk first entered OSTİM in 1980… Öztürk offered the following advice to young industrialists on how to succeed: “Patience, patience, patience. You have to love your job. If you don't love it, you shouldn't get involved in it at all. You have to be respectful of your colleagues and your work, set your goals high and strive to reach them. You must have a goal.”
OSTIM DOCUMENTARY ARCHIVE
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