IKMIB rewards the stars of chemical exports

One of the top three industries in export in Turkey, the chemical industry made 16.1 billion dollars exports in 2017. Istanbul Chemicals and Chemical Products Exporters Association (IKMIB) rewarded members who made the largest export last year for their success. 120 awards in 24 categories were given to the winners during the IKMIB 2017 Stars of Export Awards ceremony which was held in Raffles Istanbul Zorlu Center.

Representing over 10,000 exporters in various sub-industries of chemistry from plastics to cosmetics, pharmaceuticals to rubber and medical to paint, IKMIB rewarded representatives of the industry who made 16.1 billion dollars export in 2017. Keeping its finger on the pulse of the industry in Turkey and creating employment for over 300,000 persons, the chemical industry placed an export goal of 18 billion dollars for 2018. Increasing 23.5 percent in March compared to February and making an export of 1 billion 565 billion dollars, the chemical industry increased its export by 1.85 percent during the quarter of the year compared to previous year and achieved 4 billion 186 million dollars export.

120 awards were given in 24 categories in the “2017 IKMIB Stars of Export” ceremony held by IKMIB in order to honor and encourage member companies running business in the chemical industry for their success. Fatih Metin, Deputy Minister of Economy of Republic of Turkey, Mehmet Büyükekşi, Chairman of TİM, Nahit Kemalbay, Chairman of Board of Directors of İSTOÇ, Nurhan Kaya, Chairman of Board of Directors of Rubber Association, Tayfun Koçak, Chairman of The Lubricant and Petroleum Products Industrialists’ Association (MAPESAD), Reha Gür, Chairman of Board of Directors of Plastics Industrialists’​ Association (PAGDER), İmer Özer, Chairman of PLAT Association, İsmail Hakkı Hacıalioğlu, Secretary General of Composites Manufacturers Association, Armağan Vurdu, Secretary General of İMMİB, Members of Board of Directors of IKMIB and companies of the industry took part in the awards ceremony held in Raffles Istanbul Zorlu Center, hosted by Murat Akyüz, Chairman of Board of Directors of IKMIB. The most successful companies in 24 categories were awarded during the night when the top 5 companies who made the largest export in the sub-industries and product groups of chemistry were awarded.

“We see the contribution of our export to growth will continue in 2018. The chemical industry is a strategic industry. It is an industry where there is input from many industries in every area. The growth here has a serious meaning. The innovative chemical industry makes great contribution to export. It ranks the 3rd among industries that make the largest export. It can develop much faster. We’ll reach the 50 billion dollars target of 2023 with exporters. We’ll grow with R&D, innovation, design, brand and entrepreneurship. We are and will continue to be with our exporters at every step. The investment package will soon be announced by our President. I’d like to thank to our invaluable businessmen who made contribution to the growth and export of Turkey” said Fatih Metin, Deputy Minister of Economy of Republic of Turkey, highlighting that exporters of the chemical industry raise the bar each year.

“We have made great achievements in economy and export in 2017, which we have declared to be the year of venture. We achieved 7.4 percent growth in Turkish economy in 2017. 2.55 percent of this growth is from export. The chemical industry contributed to growth as the top 3rd industry that made the largest export. I hereby applaud all exporters who achieved this success. We need to pay attention to 5 key elements to achieve success in export. Our export will grow much further with R&D, innovation, design, brand and entrepreneurship” said Mehmet Büyükekşi, Chairman of Turkish Exporters Association (TİM), who thanked to Murat Akyüz, Chairman of IKMIB and the management for the contribution they made to chemical industry and thus to the economy of Turkey.

Murat Akyüz, Chairman of Board of Directors of Istanbul Chemicals and Chemical Products Exporters Association (IKMIB) made the opening speech in the ceremony, celebrated the companies who received awards and said: “We have gone through a difficult period for our country. We had the least possible impact from all political and economic issues thanks to the strength we got from each other. Exporters who had full faith in their country and their people continued their struggle despite all difficulties and successfully protected the positive image of the country’s economy. Our chemical industry made 16.1 billion dollars export in 2017, being the top third industry that made the largest export in Turkey. Comprising 50 percent of the chemical export of about 16.1 billion dollars made across Turkey, the 8 billion dollars export was made by the members of Istanbul Chemicals and Chemical Products Exporters Association. We have come together here tonight to share this pride and joy with our exporters who made contribution to our industry. I believe that Stars of Export awards are important motivation for our companies”.

“The export of our industry for 2017 has been 18.3 million tons with 10.9 percent increase compared to previous year and 16.1 billion dollars in value with 15.2 percent increase. The top ten countries which the chemical industry made export to most in 2017 are respectively United Arab Emirates, Germany, Iraq, USA, Egypt, Italy, Iran, Spain, Greece and UK. The group of countries to which the largest export was made last year is the European Union with 36 percent share and 5.8 billion dollars export. Considering last year with regard to our sub-industries, we see the largest contribution to export was made by plastics and plastic goods with 5.3 billion dollars export, mineral fuels, mineral oils and mineral goods with 3.5 billion dollars export and inorganic chemical product groups with 1.3 billion dollars export” said Akyüz, evaluating the export of the industry.

“We organize exhibition organizations with national participation in the major exhibitions related to our industry in a broad geographical area from the Middle East to Asia, from USA to Europe and promote our country and our industries. As the association, we play an active role in the solution of our problems. Our exporters can communicate their opinions and questions to us at any time with the Whatsapp Line we created. We offered over 800 innovative projects in the chemical industry to our businessmen in the R&D Project Market organizations we have been making non-stop for 7 years” said Akyüz, mentioning that they carry out many activities as IKMIB to carry the industry to better levels and to support exporters.

At the end of his speech, Murat Akyüz, Chairman of Board of Directors of IKMIB said the following: “I’d like to thank to our exporters who deliver our products across the world, allowing us to make billions of dollars of export, once again. I hereby congratulate our companies who won the awards and I hope their success continues and increases”.

#IKMIB, #Chemical, #export