Bursa brought together global automotive giants.
The Bursa Automotive Meetings, supported by PLASFED, hosted by Bursa OSB, and organized for the first time on the European continent, bringing together important automotive companies from around the world, took place between November 14-16. 220 companies from 28 different countries participated in the event. New business opportunities emerged and information sharing took place within the scope of the event.
The Bursa Automotive Meetings, which brought together leading companies in the automotive sector from Turkey and the world, took place between November 14-16 at the Bursa Merinos Atatürk Congress and Culture Center. The event, among whose supporters was PLASFED, was hosted by Bursa OSB. The event, an international organization, was held for the first time on the European continent in Bursa. 220 companies from 28 countries, including Turkey, participated in the event. It is estimated that more than 5,000 bilateral business meetings were held within the scope of the event.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the program, Bursa OSB President Hüseyin Durmaz emphasized that they had achieved a first for Turkey, stating, “At this meeting, hosted by Bursa OSB, with the participation of more than 100 industry giants from 28 countries, from the United States to France, from Germany to Japan, from Iran to Russia, and over 120 from Turkey, we will discuss new models, new orders, trends, the situation and future of the sector with representatives of global automotive giants for three days. Additionally, opportunities for collaboration will be created through bilateral business meetings.”
Durmaz emphasized that Bursa ranks high in production and competitiveness in the automotive and sub-industry sectors, stating, “As of today, there are three automobile factories operating in the main automotive industry in Bursa. One out of every two automobiles manufactured in Turkey is produced in Bursa. This situation has also ensured the structuring of a strong automotive sub-industry in Bursa.”
Durmaz reminded that automotive is a technology-intensive sector and a strong export item for Turkey, stating that automotive industry exports amounted to 20 billion 773 million Dollars in the first 9 months of 2017.
Bursa OSB Vice President and Central Anatolian Exporters' Unions Board Member Baran Çelik also noted that the automotive industry has been the sectoral export champion for the last 11 years. Çelik explained that the Turkish automotive sector has an annual production capacity of 2 million units of cars and commercial vehicles, and Turkey is one of the most important automotive production centers in Europe and the World.
Ali Rıza Oktay, Head of the Automotive Department of the Ministry of Economy, which supported the organization, also stated in his speech that as the ministry, they are working to meet all the needs of the sector.
TEKNOSAB is Being Established.
BTSO President İbrahim Burkay stated that the Bursa Technology Organized Industrial Zone (TEKNOSAB) project, which aims to establish an organized industrial zone and its components to develop technology-intensive industries of the Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will also develop the automotive sector. He reminded that TEKNOSAB has an infrastructure that provides significant advantages for competitiveness in the automotive sector.
Burkay, pointing out the importance of the Bursa Automotive Meetings Turkey Organization being held in Bursa, said, “After Mexico, Colombia, and the USA, the first leg in Europe is taking place in Turkey, in Bursa. Looking at the conjuncture and timing, the fact that this meeting is held in Bursa during a period when efforts related to domestic automobiles are taking shape is very important for the Turkish economy and Bursa.”
Bursa Governor İzzettin Küçük also emphasized in his speech that the state is focusing on education investments to develop in the industrial field, while Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Alinur Aktaş noted his happiness that the event took place in his city.
The opening session of the Bursa Automotive Meetings was attended by: Selçuk Aksoy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Plastics Industrialists Federation (PLASFED); Reha Gür, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Plastics Industrialists Association (PAGDER), one of PLASFED's member associations; İsmail Hakkı Hacıalioğlu, Secretary General of the Composites Industrialists Association; Bursa Governor İzzettin Küçük; Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Alinur Aktaş; Ali Rıza Oktay, Head of the Automotive Department of the Ministry of Economy; Hüseyin Durmaz, President of Bursa OSB; İbrahim Burkay, President of Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTSO); Remzi Topuk, Chairman of the BTSO Assembly; Baran Çelik, Board Member of Uludağ Automotive Industry Exporters' Association (OİB); and Ahmet Nazif Zorlu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Zorlu Holding.
This content has been translated using artificial intelligence technology.