Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank said that thanks to the proactive policies implemented, a serious acceleration has been achieved in growth and exports, and that they expect industrialists to trust economic policies and continue their investments with courage.
Minister Varank inaugurated the Uşak Bovine Leather Processing Facility, which was implemented within the scope of the "Competitive Sectors Program" jointly financed by the Republic of Turkey and the EU and carried out by the Ministry of Industry and Technology.
In his speech, Varank stated that they have implemented projects that will activate the potentials by identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the cities, and stated that they have brought 150 important projects, the product of these studies, with a total budget of 5 million TL, to Uşak today.
Stating that the cards were shuffled again in the global system, and that they were going through tough but also opportunistic periods, Varank said:
“Breakthrough technologies, pandemic, climate change and now the conditions of war are redesigning the global economy. As the Ministry of Industry and Technology, we are working hard to manage these transformation processes in the best way and to move our country to the position it deserves. For this, there are policies we have implemented in many areas from planned industrial infrastructures to business and investment environment, from R&D and technology ecosystem to entrepreneurship. However, you will appreciate that strong financing mechanisms are required for the successful implementation of these policies. Therefore, we are constantly diversifying our financing tools, ensuring that more SMEs and more entrepreneurs benefit from these supports.”
A SPECIAL AND EXAMPLE FACILITY IN EVERY ASPECT
Noting that they provided co-financing with the European Union and that they created a resource of 800 million Euros with the program run by the ministry, Varank stated that they supported 88 projects.
Stating that they want businesses to be a part of a more efficient, competitive and green ecosystem with these projects, Varank pointed out that the leather facility in Uşak is one of the best examples of these projects.
Varank continued:
“We provided 100 million liras of support to this project, which was developed in cooperation with Uşak Deri OIZ and Zafer Development Agency. With 8 state-of-the-art machinery and equipment in this facility, which has a total area of 10 thousand square meters, 35 thousand square meters of which is closed, approximately 20 tons of bovine leather can be processed per day. Thanks to its advanced waste management system, this facility also sets a very good example with its environmental awareness. A wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of 24 thousand cubic meters operates in this facility, which has an EIA report according to European Union norms. This facility, which is special and exemplary in every aspect, will bring a new breath to the leather industry in Uşak and even in our country.”
PRODUCTION OPPORTUNITY DURING 12 MONTHS
Varank explained that Uşak is a city that has become a brand in leather, where 65 percent of the sheep skins in the country are processed, and that there are 133 enterprises operating in this sector in the Uşak Leather Mixed Organized Industrial Zone.
Pointing out that the industry is drifting towards a bottleneck due to the fact that sheep skin is mainly used in the manufacture of clothing and the demand for these clothing is gradually decreasing, Varank noted that with the project they implemented, they transferred the city's experience in sheep skinning to cattle leather business, which has a higher economic value.
Pointing out that thanks to the established facility and the technical support provided, the enterprises will have the opportunity to process bovine leather at very low costs without making any investment, and stated that this way, the leather industry, which can work for a maximum of 8 months a year, will have the opportunity to produce for 12 months.
Stating that they foresee that the industrialists, whose competitive power is increasing, will act together in the fields of supply, production and marketing over time, Varank noted that they want businesses to benefit from the state supports given to clusters.
CALL TO CONTINUE INVESTMENTS
Explaining that they continue with determination with the new economy model they have built on investment, production, employment and export, Varank continued his words as follows:
“As a result of the proactive policies we implemented under the leadership of our President, we have gained a serious momentum in growth and exports. But more importantly, we realize this success performance under the leadership of our industrial sector. But we still have a long way to go. By using the opportunities offered by the new world order correctly, we will further develop our potential and turn our country into a global production base. At this point, it is of great importance that all our provinces make maximum contribution to the national economy.”
Stating that they expect the industrialists they support with the infrastructures they have created, attractive incentives and qualified human resources to continue their investments without fear and hesitation, Varank said, “As long as you trust us and our economic policies. You will see that the mostly foreign-sourced increases in inflation will come to an end in a short time, and you will enter the new period much more prepared thanks to the investments you will make. Both you and our country will win.” he said.
At the ceremony, Uşak Governor Funda Kocabıyık, AK Party Uşak Deputy Mehmet Altay, Ministry of Foreign Affairs European Union Presidency Financial Cooperation and Project Implementation General Manager Bülent Özcan and Uşak Leather Mixed Organized Industrial Zone President İbrahim Karahallı made speeches.
Then, Minister Varank and his entourage cut the opening ribbon of the facility. He activated the factory by pressing the button of the leather processing machine.
20 TONS OF LEATHER WILL BE PROCESSED PER DAY
Approximately 8000 tons of bovine leather will be processed per day in Uşak Deri (Mixed) Organized Industrial Zone, which has a total area of 10.000 square meters, 35 square meters of which is closed, and is intended to be one of the most modern common use facilities of our country in the field of cattle leather processing with 20 machines and equipment.
UKOSB Chairman of the Board İbrahim Karahallı pointed out that 65 percent of the sheep leather still processed in Turkey is produced in Uşak and said, “Uşak is a city that has proven its expertise in this field both at home and abroad. However, sheep leather is only used in clothing production and the demand for leather clothing has been decreasing both in Turkey and in the world since 2010. In addition, prices are falling. For this reason, we have implemented this project in order to direct our leather industrialists in Uşak to produce bovine leather, which is the main input of shoes, bags and saddlery products, which is a compulsory consumption item.”
EXAMPLE FACILITY WITH ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY
While realizing the Uşak Bovine Leather Processing Project, which will be one of the most modern cattle leather processing facilities in Turkey, great importance was attached to waste management. UKOSB has a waste water treatment plant with a daily capacity of 24.000 cubic meters, which is constantly inspected by the Uşak Provincial Directorate of Environment and Urbanization. The wastewater of the cattle hide processing plant, which has an EIA Report according to the European Union norms, will be connected to the existing wastewater channel and will be treated in the treatment system.
Visiting the area where leather and leather products produced in Uşak are exhibited, Minister Varank then made examinations at some facilities operating in the same industrial zone.
The opening ceremony was attended by AK Party Uşak Deputy İsmail Güneş and Uşak Mayor Mehmet Çakın, Uşak University Rector Prof. Dr. Ekrem Savaş, AK Party Uşak Provincial Chairman Fahrettin Tuğrul and other interested parties.
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