Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır stated that there is a possibility of signing an investment agreement with another company in Turkey soon, following the Chinese BYD, one of the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturers, and said, “I can say that we want to announce similar investment news in this sector and other sectors in the coming period, it would not be a surprise.”
Kacır made an assessment on BYD’s investment in Turkey and his meeting with Renault Group Global’s CEO Luca de Meo in a program he attended on a television channel.
Emphasizing that Renault is a very valuable investor for them, Kacır said that the company has recently accelerated its investments in Turkey regarding hybrid car production.
Kacır reported that the company has prepared a production plan for new generation cars and models and that they have strong plans to produce new generation vehicles in Turkey.
Kacır, who noted that they strongly supported these plans as the Ministry of Industry and Technology, said:
“We are preparing to make further plans with them. There is a tremendous transformation in all areas of technology. We are also preparing 10-year plans with our important investors and industrialists. These plans are being prepared in line with Turkey’s development plans. We wish Turkey to be predictable for investors.”
Kacır pointed out that Turkey’s investment incentives are an important instrument and said that BYD’s investment will be supported similarly to those in the past.
Kacır stated that they provide “tailor-made” support for each project and explained that they create an incentive framework that includes the priority needs of the project.
“IT MAY BE SIGNED SOON”
Kacır touched on the “win-win” strategy and said, “We will share more comprehensive information about BYD’s investment incentives in the coming weeks. The main elements we offer to investors in incentives are some conveniences in terms of finding an investment location. We also have different supports for employment and tax practices. Our goal is to accelerate Turkey’s development journey and to create a win-win relationship with investors.”
Emphasizing that they want to increase the share of production in electric, plug-in hybrid and other hybrid vehicles in Turkey in the coming period, Kacır said, “We want to gradually reduce the share of internal combustion vehicles in both production and the market. We want to run faster on this path than we have so far. We are making efforts to activate all elements of this green transformation.”
Kacır stated that they will continue to work to accelerate new technology investments in Turkey for both existing and new brands like BYD, and said:
“I had said that we had reached the final point with two brands, especially in the last month. We finally signed with one. We may sign with another one soon, but communication is still ongoing with the others. Just as we have made very good collaborations with American, European, Korean and Japanese brands, we can also make collaborations with Chinese brands. As long as we act with a win-win approach. They benefit from Turkey’s opportunities in the most effective way, and we accelerate our growth and development journey thanks to them. I can say that we want to announce similar investment news in this sector and other sectors in the coming period, it would not be a surprise.”
“Türkiye WILL GROW BY EXPORTING TECHNOLOGICAL PRODUCTS TO THE WORLD”
Kacır, who pointed out that their priority is to bring large-scale investments to Turkey, stated that economy of scale is one of the most important competitive elements of global brands today and that it brings about the creation of local added value, especially in some industrial branches.
Kacır stated that investments in Turkey will continue and said, “BYD’s investment is an investment projected as 1 billion dollars. The investment amounts of other brands may be a little lower or a little higher, but what is sensitive is the rapid increase in investments that will create economies of scale, competitive power and export potential in Turkey. Turkey will grow by exporting technological products to the world. We attach great importance to these investments in this respect as well.”
Emphasizing that they aim to make Turkey a production pool and center for global brands, Kacır said that with investments and exports, Turkey’s role at the global level will be strengthened not only in production but also in R&D and innovation.
Kacır pointed out that this was not the first time that global investments were made in Turkey and made the following assessment:
“We must say that we have provided a direct foreign capital inflow of over 260 billion dollars during the AKP government. Last year, 10.6 billion dollars of direct foreign capital inflow was realized to Turkey. Before the AKP government, Turkey was getting a 0.2 percent share of the global direct foreign capital flow. This share increased to 1 percent in the last 22 years. In other words, we have increased our share of this pie fivefold. This alone is actually proof to investors that Turkey is the right address for investors. Of course, we will take steps to accelerate direct foreign capital investments in the coming period.”
“WE ARE PREPARING A NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL AREAS PLAN”
Kacır, who gave the information that they have made comprehensive work plans regarding the establishment of industrial areas in Turkey, said, “Working together with all public stakeholders, we are preparing a National Industrial Areas Plan with an approach that takes into account all transportation investments of Turkey until 2053 and where all the targets of Turkey come together on a common ground. The most important result of this will be to increase the scale of organized industry and industrial zones in Turkey.”
Kacır stated that the share currently allocated to industrial areas in Turkey is at the level of 0.36 percent of the total surface area and noted the following:
“We aim to increase this to 1 percent. For this, it is important for this plan to be ready and for these industrial areas to be prepared quickly to be offered to investors. We are working on different financing methods in the upcoming period. In addition, we have a very wide set of instruments on the investment incentives side. In the upcoming period, we will create a new incentive framework for investments that will bring green transformation, digital transformation, high added value and the transformation of the local dynamics of the regions into economic value. We will announce these with a new High Technology Incentive Program to be announced to the whole world by our President. This will also attract the attention of investors on a global level.”
Emphasizing that they want to increase Turkey’s production capabilities, especially in areas such as battery and sensor technologies, Kacır added that all these developments will further accelerate the flow of global investments to Turkey.
