Plastics, which met ordinary needs yesterday, are indispensable for the industrial sector today, and will be the shining digital and technological star of tomorrow, rapidly continue this development. Our sector grows faster than Turkey's growth rate every year, rightfully reaching its deserved place. Of course, due to the many advantages brought by this rapid change and transformation, it replaces other materials, and therefore, like throwing stones at a fruitful tree, it is sought to be undermined by the perception of it being an undesirable harmful material in the market and competition arena.
Plastics sector: Unique and in every aspect of life
The plastics sector is not like other sectors. It has its own unique structure and areas of use. It is a comprehensive sector that touches every stage of human life, from human health to environmental impacts, from industrial areas to recycling. Dear sector veterans, sector representatives, many of us have witnessed the evolution of the plastics sector since I became acquainted with it in 1977, up to the present day. In those times when PETKİM did not exist, despite adversities such as raw material crises, coups, devaluations, inflations, high credits, energy cuts, black markets, and machine supply, as well as economic and political impasses, our sector managed to overcome all these uncertainties and prove itself. It achieved this thanks to its dynamic structure, being an indispensable product, its flexibility and durability, and cost-influencing advantages such as freight. This means that the strengths of our sector have always been more numerous and superior to its weaknesses.
Competition, technology, and the necessity of unity today
In today's world, where brutal competition plays a role both domestically and internationally due to the multitude of sectors and companies, it is clear that we need unity and solidarity as much as we need the rapid change brought by technological advancement, digitalization, and artificial intelligence. The world is like a tapestry; only you can fill your place in it. This means that to complete a picture, we must be whole and combine the patterns of its parts. With this understanding, both as companies and as associations, the value of taking our place within our umbrella organization PLASFED, now and in the future, and making our voices heard collectively and more loudly to announce the sustainability and importance of our sector to all of Turkey and the world, is felt more deeply every day. Having a history of approximately 150 years, a young and dynamic structure, and replacing other materials thanks to the many advantages of plastic materials and rapid change and transformation, has drawn all attention to our sector. This has disturbed special interest groups and exposed the sector to negative perceptions. We are going through times when we need unity and solidarity more than ever. Wishing that this unity, which is not granted to every sector, continues to strengthen on every platform, I wish you all prosperous, abundant, and profitable days.