PLASFED President Ömer Karadeniz stated that access to finance and information in industry weakens investment appetite, emphasizing that production-prioritizing, predictable, and stable policies are vital for Turkish industry. Karadeniz also pointed out that the plastics sector plays a strategic role in health, defense, and high-technology fields.
Ömer Karadeniz, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Plastics Industrialists Federation (PLASFED), was a guest of Aslıhan Yıldız on the 'Gün İçinden' program, broadcast live on Ulusal Kanal. Many topics were discussed in the program, such as the current situation of Turkish industry, problems in production, access to finance, the investment environment, the strategic importance of the plastics sector, and environmental policies.
Karadeniz emphasized that one of the most important problems faced by the industry is access to information and finance, stating that difficulties in this area lead to a slowdown in investments and a contraction in production capacity. Karadeniz stated that new investments are postponed in an environment where industrialists cannot see ahead, underlining that stability and predictability are vital for industry.
Karadeniz, stating that Turkey has a strong production infrastructure, used the expressions, “We are not an oil country. Our oil is production. Supporting production means increasing employment and added value.” He said that keeping the motivation of industrialists high is critical for the country's economy.
“Plastic is a strategic product”
Karadeniz, also making assessments about the plastics sector, stated that it is a great misconception to see the sector as limited only to packaging, adding that plastics have become indispensable in health, defense industry, aviation, and medical fields, especially after the pandemic. He stated that engineering plastics and composites play a strategic role in the defense industry in terms of range, lightness, and performance.
Karadeniz, also touching upon the issue of environment and sustainability, drew attention to the importance of the Deposit Return System (DRS) and source separation practices. Karadeniz stated that these systems, which have been implemented for many years in developed countries, should become widespread in Turkey as well, and evaluated the Deposit Return System launched as a pilot in Sakarya as a positive step.
“Interest, exchange rate-cost imbalance challenges industrialists”
Karadeniz, also sharing current data on the slowdown in industrial production, referred to the PMI (Purchasing Managers' Index) data of the Istanbul Chamber of Industry, stating that the index has been below the threshold value of 50 for a long time, clearly demonstrating the stagnation in production. He stated that high interest rates, exchange rate-cost imbalance, and inflation increase the pressure on industrialists.
At the end of the program, Karadeniz emphasized that in order for the industry to strengthen, the investment environment must be improved, access to finance must be facilitated, and production-prioritizing policies must be continued with determination.
This content has been translated using artificial intelligence technology.