OSTİM Business and Construction Machinery Cluster (İŞİM) held its 3rd Ordinary General Assembly Meeting. The meeting, attended by representatives from both the public and private sectors, thoroughly examined the sector from A to Z. The importance of the cluster was reiterated in the speeches given at the General Assembly.
Industry representatives, emphasizing the inadequacy of public and university contributions, stated that the necessary strength for Turkish industry to accelerate its growth will come from the public sector and universities. Following the meeting, elections were held for the new Board of Directors and Supervisory Board of İŞİM (Turkish Industry Association).
İŞİM contributes to the development of its members through its competitiveness and export projects. Since its establishment, the cluster, which held its 3rd Ordinary General Assembly, has been a representative of the sector both nationally and internationally through its activities.
The meeting, which attracted high-level representatives from public and private sector organizations, was attended by Yenimahalle Mayor Fethi Yaşar, İller Bankası General Manager Mehmet Turgut Dedeoğlu, State Supply Office (DMO) Marketing Department Head İsmet Keskin, Hidromek Chairman Hasan Basri Bozkurt, Construction Machinery Engineers Association Chairman Duran Karaçay, Ostim Industrialists and Businessmen Association (OSIAD) Chairman Ahmet Kurt, and representatives of cluster member companies. At the beginning of the program, Cluster Coordinator Fevzi Gökalp presented the cluster's activities over the past three years to the participants.
Clustering: The Backbone of Industrialization
Prof. Dr. Ziya Burhanettin Güvenç, Chairman of the Board of Directors of İŞİM (Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association), gave a presentation titled "Clustering: The Most Rational Development Model." Güvenç explained the importance of clustering by addressing the questions "What is a cluster?" and "What is happening in the world?". Stating that clustering forms the main backbone of a country's industrialization, the İŞİM Chairman said, "The main reason behind the high level of industrialization and technology of the countries that are among the top 10 economically in the world today is the clustering policy."
Güvenç, who described groups that do not consider the country's industrialization and the reduction of the current account deficit as a mass, shared his view that "We call the groups that think about how to eliminate the current account deficit a cluster." Stating that the contribution of the public sector and universities is insufficient, Ziya Burhanettin Güvenç conveyed the message that, "If the state wants to produce high value-added products, the only place this can come from is a cluster. Products that come from a cluster cannot be copied. Product diversity also comes from clusters."
“Legislation Must Be Explored”
OSTİM Board Chairman Orhan Aydın stated that the cluster studies conducted in the region develop companies and produce solutions to their problems. Aydın, stating that OSTİM works to solve the problems of Ankara, Turkey, and the world, said, “With the idea that we can produce solutions to our problems when we come together, we bring our companies together and introduce them to each other. This journey started this way. We are not only dealing with construction machinery at OSTİM. We are carrying out these activities in many areas, including defense and aerospace, medical, energy, rubber, and rail systems.”
Orhan Aydın argued that in Turkey, the public sector faces artificial limitations imposed by legislation such as the World Trade Organization, the European Union, and the Competition Law regarding the preference for domestic production. Noting that many countries around the world circumvent these regulations by using free trade laws to prioritize their own products, Aydın commented, “We need to sit down and study, to discover the obstacles that those who designed the world have placed before us. We cannot solve these problems individually. Therefore, we must come together in clusters.”
“All sectors should cluster together”
Yenimahalle Mayor Fethi Yaşar touched upon the importance of production. He also pointed out that sales are as important as production, warning, “Even if you produce in the best way possible, if you can't sell that product, that sector has no chance of survival.”
Yaşar emphasized that Ankara has long held a very important position in the construction and industrial machinery sector, and noted that OSTİM provides services in sales and production. Yaşar stated that all sectors should be clustered together.
“We Need a Power to Move Forward”
Duran Karaçay, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Construction Machinery Engineers Association, argued that they are not receiving the necessary support from the public sector and universities. Stating that the two groups should support the sector by being involved within it, Karaçay said, “Turkish industry is just starting out. We need a power to move forward! This power will come from the public sector and universities.”
Domestic Producers Receive Open Doors
Ismet Keskin, Head of the DMO Marketing Department, informed the participants about the purchasing processes and supplies carried out by the institution. Keskin explained that in meeting public needs, they act in accordance with the principles of public benefit, effective and efficient use of resources, maximum standardization and quality, transparency, competition, and accountability.
Keskin shared the information that DMO purchased 1970 construction machines in 2015. Keskin stated, "Our doors are wide open to our domestic manufacturers. We are always ready to cooperate. We would be happy to cooperate with you regarding regulatory restrictions."
“Supporting is our duty”
Mehmet Turgut Dedeoğlu, General Manager of İller Bankası (Provinces Bank), stated that they provide loans to local governments to meet their needs. He explained that, in line with the request of the Minister of Science, Industry and Technology, Fikri Işık, they are working on encouraging municipalities to use domestic products, but due to competition laws, they cannot incentivize domestic production.
Dedeoğlu, criticizing municipalities for not preferring imported products, said, “When a municipality makes a request to us, our offer is for domestic products. However, we cannot influence the municipalities' preferences. Excellent work is being done in construction machinery in OSTİM; we need to promote this. Your products should be in the DMO catalogs; it is our duty to support you.”
Following the speeches, the general assembly commenced. The presiding committee consisted of Adem Arıcı, Mehmet Akif Irkılata, and Kenan Döker. The activity and audit committee reports were read by Fevzi Gökalp, the coordinator of the İŞİM Cluster. After the approval of the activities of the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee, elections were held for the new term's Board of Directors and Audit Committee memberships.
THE KEY POINTS OF COMPETITIVENESS
Hasan Basri Bozkurt, Chairman of the Board of Hidromek, who was invited to the general assembly as a Sector Visionary, explained the key points of competitiveness to İŞİM members. Stating that "starting my own business was my childhood dream," Bozkurt mentioned that he opened his own workplace in 1977 and produced the first domestically designed construction machine in 1989.
Bozkurt stated that they decided to expand abroad in 1999, and emphasized that in 2013 they decided to produce graders and started production by purchasing a grader factory in Thailand.
The industry veteran listed the key elements of competitiveness as follows: “The product must be high-performing, high-quality, durable, and ergonomic. It must be competitive in terms of price, delivery time, after-sales services, and compliance with national and international standards.”
Emphasizing that they have adopted business ethics principles, Bozkurt said, “We attach importance to long-term business relationships. We have invested in education. Our cooperation with universities has continued for 17 years.”
Following the 3rd Ordinary General Assembly of İŞİM, the management and supervisory boards were formed with the following names: MANAGEMENT BOARD: Prof. Dr. Ziya Burhanettin Güvenç, Necati Dayı (Pi Makine), Raşit Özgül (SANKO), Orhan Aydın (OSTİM), Mehmet Kaybal (MEKA), Mehmet Arslan (Hidrolift), Yıldıray Erzurum (Karke), Halide Rasim (Rasim Makine), Esra Elmadağlı Yaşar (Seçkin Makine), Burcu Erdoğan Kaya (Er Makine), Osman Başayar (Başayar Makine), İbrahim Demirtaş (Pınar İş Makineleri), Ayşe Beltan (SET-A Makine), Ömer Faruk Yılmaz (Paragon).
SUPERVISORY BOARD: Hüseyin Kıral (Alimar Makine), Yeliz Özkaraoğlu (Özkara Hidrolik), Suat Çiftçi (Teknikon)
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