TİM Launches Production Mobilization to Combat Coronavirus

Turkey's Exporters Assembly (TİM), together with 61 exporter associations within its structure, launched a production mobilization effort to support Turkey's fight against coronavirus. TİM aims to meet mask and disinfectant needs across Turkey, especially for healthcare workers, through domestic and national production. Under the production initiative launched with the slogan "We produced for our exports until today. Now we are producing for our health;" 1 million medical masks and 100,000 litres of disinfectant will be manufactured. TİM Chairman İsmail Gülle stated, "In this process where the entire business world is working with good intent and making individual efforts, TİM is coordinating this struggle to transform it into a mobilization. Together with many of our country's major ready-wear, chemicals and textile companies, we are launching a national and domestic Production Mobilization to meet the needs of our healthcare workers and overcome the current supply difficulties with masks and disinfectants. Our goal is to start with daily 1 million mask production and reach a capacity of 40 million masks per month. As TİM, we have produced for our exports until today; now we are producing for our health." Turkey's Exporters Assembly (TİM), which serves as the single umbrella organization for exports with 61 exporter associations, 27 sectors and 90,000 exporters, is launching a production mobilization with the slogan "We produced for our exports until today. Now we are producing for our health" to support Turkey's fight against coronavirus. Following the first coronavirus case in the country, this mobilization aims to counter high prices for medical masks and disinfectants and prevent underground production. Under this mobilization, 1 million medical masks and 100,000 litres of disinfectant will be produced and delivered to the Ministry of Health. TİM Chairman İsmail Gülle, Istanbul Ready-Wear and Garment Exporters Association (İHKİB) Chairman Mustafa Gültepe, Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Association (İKMİB) Chairman Adil Pelister, and Istanbul Textiles and Raw Materials Exporters Association (İTHİB) Chairman Ahmet Öksüz provided public information regarding the production mobilization launched.

"We must produce with domestic and national production awareness"

TİM Chairman İsmail Gülle stated in his remarks that, as part of this comprehensive struggle led by all institutions in the country, they stand ready to fulfil their duties alongside all state units, as expressed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: "As exporters who closely follow the world economy, we are aware that this global virus pandemic is teaching the world an important lesson: imports may be cheap but may not arrive. We must produce every product beyond our own needs with domestic and national production awareness. Understanding this stark reality, in the health struggle against coronavirus being waged across the nation, we pledge to always stand by our healthcare workers, the heroes of this struggle. In this process where the entire business world is working with good intent and making individual efforts, TİM is coordinating this struggle to transform it into a mobilization. Together with many of our country's major ready-wear, chemicals and textile companies, we are launching a national and domestic Production Mobilization to meet the needs of our healthcare workers and overcome the current supply difficulties with masks and disinfectants. We are turning our production wheels for Turkey. Our goal is to start with daily 1 million mask production and reach a capacity of 40 million masks per month. As TİM, we have produced for our exports until today; now we are producing for our health." TİM Chairman, stating that they regard working with the nation with full force during difficult times as a sacred duty, continued his remarks: "With this understanding, in coordination with our Ministry of Commerce and our 61 Exporter Associations, we are producing 1 million domestic and national masks and 100,000 litres of disinfectant and placing them at the service of our Ministry of Health, taking the first step of our mobilization. We extend our endless gratitude to our Ministry of Health and all relevant authorities, as well as our valued physicians and all healthcare personnel who work tirelessly day and night to prevent the spread of the outbreak in our country, diagnose and treat it."

"As TİM, we say 'stay home'"

Gülle, stating that they will accept and execute their responsibilities as field personnel of exports, delivered the message: "In line with our President's directive to 'not leave your homes,' as TİM we say 'stay home' and we believe we will overcome these difficult days together. We wish for healthy days when our sense of unity and solidarity will be at its highest."

"All resources are mobilized for our exporters"

Gülle drew attention to the fact that necessary measures have been quickly implemented in Turkey since the early days of the virus outbreak, noting: "With the monetary and financial measures announced by our President, the 100 billion TRY package will continue to meet the expectations and needs of all our exporters in the coming days through its secondary and tertiary stages. The announcements by public, participation and private banks regarding flexibility in all credit instalments and payments following the announced package have provided additional morale to our business world. We continue intensive contact with all relevant ministries regarding additional measures for our exporters. All resources are mobilized to increase the number of cargo aircraft requested by our exporters to deliver their products to the world. In particular, work continues with our Ministry of Commerce on implementing contactless exports, which have been deployed at Iraq and Iran border gates, also at Kapıkule. We hope for the continuation of this positive outlook resulting from the measures taken. At this point, I wish to express our gratitude to our esteemed Minister Ruhsar Pekcan for conducting this entire process proactively."

"We will produce 1 million masks daily across 100 facilities"

Istanbul Ready-Wear and Garment Exporters Association (İHKİB) Chairman Mustafa Gültepe stated, "Our Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank suggested to LC Waikiki that we increase mask production to balance the market when prices rose due to rapid increases in mask demand. LC Waikiki and TAHA Group decided in the first phase to produce 3 million masks and donate them to the Ministry of Health. Of course, to overcome this difficult period, the entire sector must take responsibility and shoulder its share of the burden. Based on this understanding, we decided to launch a campaign under the leadership of Turkey's Exporters Assembly for mask production. In the fight against the outbreak, we have declared a veritable mobilization to produce the masks needed by our physicians and all healthcare workers who work day and night sacrificing themselves. We are rapidly organizing approximately 100 facilities across Turkey. As a sector, we will create a daily production capacity of 1 million masks within a week. Our physicians and our people should not worry about masks. Depending on how the outbreak progresses and needs arise, we can increase capacity even further."

"We have a monthly capacity to produce 2.5 million litres of disinfectant"

Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Association (İKMİB) Chairman Adil Pelister noted: "During these difficult times we are facing as a country, İKMİB, the association of Turkey's second-largest export sector—chemicals—is acting with a 'Health First' understanding and taking on another patriotic duty out of responsibility. From day one, in line with the decisions and measures taken by our esteemed President, our Ministry of Health, our Ministries and our Science Board, we are launching a new production mobilization to rapidly meet the needs of our health sector. As İKMİB, we will supply all the necessary chemicals, particularly disinfectants and cleaning materials, for all our physicians and healthcare personnel who are working with historic dedication and sacrifice day and night in this coronavirus outbreak. In this regard, we are placing tonnes of disinfectant products that we will provide from our member producers at the service of our Ministry of Health, which has undertaken vital responsibility on behalf of our country in the coronavirus outbreak. Our relevant institutions can also communicate their demands to us. We have a monthly capacity to produce 2.5 million litres of disinfectant."

"We will overcome these difficult days through united efforts"

Istanbul Textiles and Raw Materials Exporters Association (İTHİB) Chairman Ahmet Öksüz also stated, "As the textiles and raw materials sector, we are fulfilling all our responsibilities in this process properly. Our companies continue production around the clock without interruption in the manufacture of masks, gloves and protective clothing, which are among the strategic product groups our country most needs in combating the outbreak. We have no import dependency regarding raw materials needed by our mask-producing companies. In this regard, we are mobilizing all resources to ensure our companies have easy access to raw materials domestically. Our companies have a monthly production capacity of approximately 40 million masks. We fully support the measures taken by our Ministries against companies hoarding during this sensitive period. If needed, we can convert all textile facilities into protective mask and garment production plants. We will overcome these difficult days through united efforts."