Speaking at the opening ceremony of ANKIROS 2024, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır said, “We have increased the number of employees in the industrial sector, which forms the basis of our independence and growth, from 3 million 900 thousand to 6 million 700 thousand. We increased the number of our organized industrial zones (OSB) from 191 to 362. We have turned the 45 industrial zones we have established into production bases of Turkey. We have broken production and export records in the industrial sector. Our automotive production increased from 357 thousand to 1 million 468 thousand annually. Turkey has become the third largest automobile manufacturer in Europe. We have never been and will never be in an understanding that discriminates between domestic and foreign capital.”
The opening ceremony of the 16th International Iron-Steel, Casting, Non-Ferrous Metallurgy Technologies, Machinery and Products Specialization Fair (ANKİROS 2024) held at the Istanbul Expo Center (IFM) was held. The ceremony was attended by Industry and Minister of Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Hannover Messe Ankiros Fair Inc. General Manager İbrahim Anıl, Turkish Foundry Industrialists Association (TÜDÖKSAD) Board Chairman Kadir Efe, Turkish Steel Producers Association (TÇÜD) Chairman Fuat Tosyalı, 22nd International Metallurgy and Materials Congress Organization Board Chairman Prof. Dr. Özgül Keleş, METEM, IMMC2024 and VDMA Metallurgy senior officials, Hannover Messe Ankiros Fair Management and sector representatives attended.
WE ARE THE 2ND LARGEST STEEL PRODUCER IN EUROPE AND THE 8TH LARGEST STEEL PRODUCER IN THE WORLD’
Minister Kacır said, “Our metal industry, which provides input to many sectors in a wide range from automotive to construction, from chemistry to machinery production, from energy to rail systems, is also among the sectors that embrace our vision of ‘strong industry, strong Turkey’ at the highest level. Our Turkish iron and steel sector, which has an annual production capacity of 60 million tons, has an important position in the world today with its production capacity, production quantity and product quality. We are the 2nd largest steel producer in Europe and the 8th largest in the world. In the first 7 months of this year, when world crude steel production decreased by 0.7 percent, we recorded a 14.9 percent increase in production. Another pride of ours in the metal industry is our casting sector.
Our metal casting sector, which is above world standards with its production technology and quality, provides products to many areas such as automotive, white goods, machinery, agriculture and construction, while also providing employment for 70 thousand citizens,” he said.
‘WE ARE THE SECOND LARGEST CASTING MANUFACTURER IN EUROPE AND THE SEVENTH LARGEST IN THE WORLD’
Stating that the success graph in the sector has increased, Minister Kacır said, “The moves we have made in the supply chain, which has been reshaped especially after the pandemic period, have increased the success graph in our sector. As Turkey, we are the second largest casting producer in Europe and the seventh largest in the world in the metal casting industry. It is a separate source of pride for us that the casting sector undertakes high-level precision castings, engineering work and R&D-requiring works. I also appreciate and congratulate the valuable representatives of our metal casting sector, which is among our leading sectors in development with an export of over 7 billion dollars, for their superior efforts.”
ANIL: FOREIGN COMPANY RATE INCREASED FROM 55 PERCENT TO 63 PERCENT
Hannover Messe Ankiros Fuarcılık A.Ş. General Manager İbrahim Anıl said, “We achieved great success in the fair we held in 2022. This success led us to make some bold decisions. We made two important decisions; first, we changed the fair center and moved our fair to the Istanbul Fair Center. Second, we transformed the company’s partnership structure into a more international and corporate structure. Our records this year are very striking. We increased our net stand area to 31,700 square meters compared to 2022, achieving a growth of over 34 percent. 1,137 companies will be represented on this area. The foreign company rate in this figure increased from 55 percent to 63 percent.”
EFE: WE MUST CLEANSE THIS SECTOR FROM THE MISTAKES WE HAVE MADE SO FAR
Kadir Efe, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Foundry Industrialists Association (TÜDÖKSAD), said, “Founders now want to show themselves a little bit. Founders say ‘nothing will happen without us’, it is true that nothing will happen without us. We should automatically cleanse this sector from the mistakes we have made so far. We want to show that Turkey is a locomotive and distinct sector with its R&D, technology and investments and openness to the world.”
The ribbon was cut after the opening speeches. Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır then toured the stands at the fair. Sector representatives introduced their products to Minister Kacır.