The Istanbul Chemicals and Chemical Products Exporters' Association (İKMİB) Hosts 16th "Turkish Foreign Investments Panel"

The "Turkish Foreign Investment Panel," moderated by Hakan Güldağ, General Editorial Director of Dünya Gazetesi, was held on 29 November 2018 at the Foreign Trade Complex with the participation of İKMİB Board Chairman Adil Pelister, North Rhine-Westphalia State Economic Development Agency Germany CEO Petra Wassner, North Rhine-Westphalia State Economic Development Agency Turkey Representative Director Dr. Adem Akkaya, ChemCologne Manager Daniel Wauben, REACH Global Services (RGS) General Manager Ahmet Ecmel Yorgancı (a subsidiary of İKMİB), NEDEX Kimya Board Chairman Beliğ Ünlüer and MKS DEVO Kimya Board Chairman M. Korgün Şengün. In his opening remarks at the panel, İKMİB Board Chairman Adil Pelister noted that Germany is currently the strongest economy in the EU, stating, "Germany is among the world's four strongest economies and remains our largest trading partner." Pelister disclosed that chemical exports to Germany rank second with a value of approximately USD 900 million, and that plastics and rubber sectors rank first and second in the chemical subsector. Noting that chemical sector imports from Germany amounted to around USD 4.4 billion as of 2017, Pelister said, "The balance is not in our favor, unfortunately. We aim to increase our trade volume in the chemical sector by the end of 2018. In 2019, we must surely develop both trade and investment opportunities reciprocally. As İKMİB, we are prepared to do our best in this regard. I would like to emphasize once more that we will provide all kinds of support to such initiatives." Petra Wassner, CEO of the North Rhine-Westphalia State Economic Development Agency Germany, stated that they take great pride in the economic cooperation between Turkey and North Rhine-Westphalia. Pointing out that 160 million people can be reached within the region's vicinity and that the region has the necessary transportation, infrastructure and digital industrialisation, Wassner said, "Research and development activities in the chemical field are also managed by medium-sized companies. We have 12 chemical parks. There are investments by 400 Turkish business operators. We have been in Turkey for 10 years. We still have more to do to create a beautiful future together."