The plastics sector, which attracts attention with its innovative solutions, adds great value to the Turkish economy. With an annual export potential of 10 billion dollars, the plastics sector continues to grow every year. For our sector, which constantly increases its share in exports, to grow even further, it primarily needs to focus on high value-added products and not reduce unit costs. Our sector, which has the feature of appealing to many sectors, also leads in reducing costs with its wide product range.
Mehmet Hakan Atalay
Başkent Plastics Industrialists and Business People (BAPSİD)
Chairman of the Board
Plastic and plastic products have been rapidly expanding in recent years. The sector's contribution to the Turkish economy is growing steadily year by year. The Turkish plastics sector ranks sixth in the world and second in Europe. The plastics and plastic products sector draws attention with its 10 billion dollar export potential. A growth of around 2-2.5 percent is projected for the sector each year.
For our sector, which constantly increases its share in exports, to grow even further, it primarily needs to focus on high value-added products and not reduce unit costs. The Turkish plastics industry needs to take the necessary steps to produce all the plastics it needs within its own borders. It is essential that the necessary infrastructure for the production of high value-added products is rapidly and urgently brought to the forefront. Thus, high-quality products can be manufactured much more cheaply.
Our developing and producing sector unfortunately has to source raw materials from abroad. This increases raw material input costs. Despite this, low labor costs are perceived as an impediment to companies choosing to import. The increase in labor costs in recent years, coupled with the continuously increasing rates of other inputs, also brings about a decline in production.
WAYS TO ESCAPE THE INFLATIONARY TRAP ARE SOUGHT
While our sector maintains such a successful course, it is also seeking ways to escape the inflationary trap that has emerged in recent years. For some time, our large and small-scale companies have been experiencing difficulties with financing. Our industrialists are working with all their might to combat difficulties in accessing finance. Accessing finance has become particularly difficult in the last three months. As a result, some businesses have had to take new and undesirable measures and undergo restructuring in their operations.
While domestic production has fallen to almost below 50 percent, employment has also shrunk by the same proportion. Companies are now very hesitant about growth and making new investments. They even had to postpone their investments for a certain period.
As in every sector, in our sector too, necessary steps must be taken regarding qualified personnel, and personnel should be trained in industrial vocational high schools. For this, we believe a fundamental reform is essential.
For our country, plastic is very valuable and offers innovative solutions. Plastic, offering a range of products within a class of chemical substances open to innovation for centuries, draws all attention. Although some create a negative public opinion that plastic is a bad material, plastic is not merely a product like bottles or nylon. This is such an invention that it offers a range of products appealing to every sector. Plastic, serving the medical, aerospace, automotive and sub-industry, furniture, electrical home appliances, and construction sectors, has made progress by renewing itself over the years. Plastic has successfully reduced the production costs of these sectors.
Life goes on, and life with plastic also goes on. If we use it well and manage its recycling properly, plastic will continue to be a part of our lives.
This content has been translated using artificial intelligence technology.