Container Cities to Be "Neighbors" to Industrial Zones

Container Cities Should Be Neighbors to Industrial Zones Manufacturers affected by the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes have proposed that container cities in these towns be established on land surrounding organized industrial zones (OIZs) to help life return to normal. According to information compiled by AA correspondent, 57 OIZs are located in 10 provinces affected by the "disaster of the century," with 36 of them operational. The others are still undergoing processes related to infrastructure, planning or expropriation. Industrial facilities in the regions operate mainly in textile, apparel and food manufacturing. The 36 operational OIZs accounted for 21 percent of total employment in all OIZs.

Adıyaman Organize Sanayi Bölgesi Chairman Abdulkadir Çelenk, noting that debris removal work continues in the city, made the following comments on the matter:

"We need containers to keep our workers on their feet. It's necessary for workers to stay here. Our city has turned to ruins, at least let us keep our workers. We have the space for this, we only need containers. We will request containers from other OIZs."

"36 textile factories of ours started production as of yesterday"

Diyarbakır Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Mehmet Kaya, noting that his factories have no issues with their physical structure, said they have demands related to production and exports. Stating that life must be normalized in the earthquake-affected provinces, Kaya continued his remarks as follows: "People need to open their workplaces, workers need to go to their jobs, life needs to start. We need to take two things into account here. We must support production costs in the region. We should provide region-specific support for worker costs for 6 months to 1 year. Natural gas and electricity consumption should be discounted. Additionally, interest support should be provided for sector-specific manufacturing loans for continuing operations. We do not want unfair competition in energy support; this support should be provided short-term. Taking these steps will enable production in the region. Also, the urgent needs of provinces more severely affected by the earthquake can be met from neighboring cities like ours. Food, containers, tents, and baby diapers and similar needs should be sourced from facilities in the region. Cities like Diyarbakır, Şanlıurfa, Gaziantep and Malatya are currently positioned to produce, but if the conditions I mentioned are met, cities will quickly recover. Our 36 textile factories in the organized industrial zone also started production as of yesterday."

"Food, apparel and construction material factories want to operate"

Gaziantep Chamber of Industry Chairman Adnan Ünverdi said they are waiting for the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change to complete damage assessment work in factories. Stating that they want factories capable of operating to start as soon as possible, Ünverdi continued as follows: "Preparations for this are being completed, work will begin in a day or two. Natural gas is being provided in stages, those who can work will work. We also have a call for our workers. Even though we are in an area under martial law, we must work. Having those capable of working go to the factories will both boost morale and enable life to return to normal. To keep ourselves standing, to help cities that have been destroyed, we all must work. We will bind our own wounds." Stating that there are no destroyed factories, only factories that need reinforcement, Ünverdi said, "We want to transition to working order as soon as possible. Gaziantep is a manufacturing city. The food sector must start production in the first phase. Our factories related to apparel and shelter construction want to operate as soon as possible. Work will heal the impact the earthquake has left on us. Employers will maintain their relationships with customers and will not lose customers. Especially if we lose customers from abroad, these factories will face greater hardship in the future."

"Some factories will not start production within 6 months"

Kahramanmaraş Chamber of Commerce and Industry Board President Mehmet Hanefi Öksüz, noting that they are trying to recover after the great disaster, said, "Damage to our operations is extensive. Damage varies from factory to factory. There are roof collapses. Machinery has been crushed under debris. This is also an important situation. We will get our industry back on its feet, God willing. Industry gets back on its feet through workers, not aid from outside. We have lost workforce, some cannot be reached. Our province is a major producer in yarn and textiles. We also have steel goods production. We have all types of industry. We also have cement and paper sectors. There are 28 factories and 14,000 workers in our province. Some of our factories will start production within a week, others will not be able to start production within 6 months. We will get through this, but the lives we have lost will not come back."

"They will both live and work in containers"

Malatya Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Oğuzhan Ata Sadıkoğlu, noting that a significant portion of industrial facilities in the province are housing residents, said, "Container cities should be built around organized industrial zones to enable personnel to stay there. Maintenance and food needs can also be provided by employers. Currently, operational personnel have accommodation problems, everyone has scattered. If we build containers, they will both live and work. Let us address this urgently. If such opportunity exists, we will get industry back on its feet immediately. 20 percent of factories in the city have heavy damage, 80 percent will recover with minor renovations. The accommodation and tent problem must be solved as soon as possible." Noting that food and textile and apparel sectors stand out in the city, Sadıkoğlu said, "Cities should not be evacuated wholesale. Yet these cities will somehow recover. We do not believe that emptying the city will be a solution. The elderly and sick can leave the city, but if you provide opportunities for everyone capable of working to work in their city, the city's recovery will also be ensured."

"Once workers recover, we will start production"

Osmaniye Chamber of Commerce and Industry Board Chairman Devrim Murat Aksoy, noting that there is no damage in industrial facilities in the city but they have not yet started production, said, "In the city, we have production in sectors such as iron-steel, textile and food. Currently, we are only using factories to meet citizens' emergency needs. Once workers recover, we will start production in a short time."   Source