Yavuz Işık Re-elected as Chairman of the Board of the Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Association

The 32nd Ordinary General Assembly of the Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Association (THBB) was held on 6 April 2019 at its headquarters in Kavacık, Istanbul, where new Board of Directors and Supervisory Board members were elected. At the General Assembly, the newly elected Board of Directors selected Yavuz Işık for re-election as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Yavuz Işık, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the European Ready Mixed Concrete Organization (ERMCO) and THBB, stated in his remarks that the Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Association has successfully represented the sector at national and international levels since its establishment. Yavuz Işık evaluated developments related to the construction sector. Yavuz Işık said: "The construction sector has not started 2019 well. Residential sales across Turkey in the first two months showed a decline of 21.5% compared to the same period of the previous year. Mortgage-backed residential sales have declined at a much higher rate. In the first two months, mortgage-backed residential sales across Turkey declined by 72.7% compared to the same period of the previous year, falling to only 15,427. The share of mortgage-backed sales in total residential sales declined to 10%.

When we consider that the average of this ratio over the previous four years was 34%, we can all clearly see how deeply the current interest rate levels are affecting the construction sector," he said.

Yavuz Işık, emphasizing that the downturn in the construction market is reflected in employment figures, stated: "In the most recently announced December, construction sector employment fell to 1.6 million. At the end of 2017, this figure was above 2 million. In total, there is a loss of 440,000 jobs in one year. Due to the contraction in the construction sector, construction employment declined by 21% compared to the previous year. No other sector has experienced a decline of this magnitude. This is why we are raising the need for urgent measures for the construction sector at every opportunity and every platform. Manufacturing employment declined by 0.7% compared to the previous year. The number of unemployed in the overall economy increased by 1 million compared to the previous year. The unemployment rate in the economy reached 13.5%. The sole method for Turkey to reduce unemployment to the 10% range is to support the construction sector," he said. Noting that no significant growth is expected in the global economy in 2019 due to the continuation of global uncertainties and slowdown in economic activity, Yavuz Işık continued his remarks: "Under these global conditions; we need every kind of measure that will build confidence among economic actors in our country, give us confidence, open the way ahead, and ease the market. We want to see our economic management alongside us during this period.

Over the 10-month period since April 2018, the construction sector and, consequently, the manufacturing industries that feed into the construction sector have been struggling with weak domestic demand, high interest rates, and economic uncertainty.

As ready mixed concrete producers, we are perhaps the first sector directly affected by this decline in construction. A comprehensive, long-term, multifaceted roadmap must be presented. In previous years, strategy documents were prepared for many sectors such as machinery, overseas contracting, iron-steel, and textile-apparel. We demand that a similar comprehensive and broadly participatory strategy document be prepared for the construction sector. The implementation of measures and support within the framework of this roadmap is vital. We believe that this is a requirement for the sector to have visibility, confidence, and to continue on its path," he continued. Yavuz Işık provided information about the Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Association and its work. Yavuz Işık said: "The Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Association effectively monitors worldwide developments and brings them to our country. In parallel with the world, by focusing on sustainability, we presented the "Responsible Use of Resources System" to the Turkish ready mixed concrete and cement sectors. In 2018, by beginning the certification of ready mixed concrete plants and cement factories, we achieved one of the world's firsts as the Turkish ready mixed concrete sector in the field of sustainability," he said. Noting that they achieved important developments in research and development last year, Yavuz Işık stated: "Our project titled 'Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Association Concrete Research Development and Technology Advisory Center,' presented through our Building Materials Laboratory in partnership with Yildiz Technical University, was found successful by the Istanbul Development Agency (İSTKA), and we began our work.

Within the scope of the project, we will establish a center within THBB that is open to the common use of the sector and all stakeholders, capable of conducting advanced concrete research, and providing R&D and technology consulting services," he said.

Yavuz Işık reported that they are following developments related to the Electronic Concrete Monitoring System (EBİS), briefly known as "Chipped Concrete." Yavuz Işık said: "The EBİS regulation entered into force at the end of 2018. In 2018, we began our work before the system entered into force.

We prepared various reports regarding our findings and the problems encountered by our members and solution proposals, which we submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization General Directorate of Building Affairs. The majority of our proposals were approved by the Ministry authorities and work has begun. We continue our work by closely monitoring all developments on this matter," he said. Emphasizing that the Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Association has demonstrated full teamwork with its members, management board, and staff in signing important projects, Yavuz Işık concluded his remarks as follows: "While protecting the interests of our sector through our work, we strive to ensure that all our structures are built with concrete that complies with quality standards. With the awareness of being a representative of one of the most important sectors in Turkey, we are putting forth dedicated and disciplined work. As one of the most established sectoral organizations in our country, the Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Association has been working tirelessly for the development of the sector for over 30 years. I wish that our General Assembly will be auspicious for our country and our Association, and I wish us all a productive meeting." New Board of Directors and Supervisory Board members were elected at the General Assembly. In the Board of Directors meeting held after the General Assembly, in the task distribution, Yavuz Işık was re-elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Halit İnci as Vice Chairman, and Cemalettin Danış as Accounting Member. In the task distribution made by the Supervisory Board, Ali Ergölen was elected as Chairman of the Supervisory Board.

Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Association Board of Directors Members
Yiğit Hazır Beton San. Tic. Ltd. Şti.	Yavuz Işık
İnciler İnş. Tic. ve San. AŞ	Halit İnci
Danış Beton Sıva İnş. San. Tic. AŞ	Cemalettin Danış
Onur İnş. Malz. San. ve Tic. AŞ	Mehmet Ali Onur
Batıbeton San. AŞ	Kamil Grebene
Miltaş Beton ve İnş. Mad. San. Tic. AŞ	Adem Genç
Akçansa Çimento San. ve Tic. AŞ	Barış Karahüseyin
Ulu Beton İnş. ve Taah. San. Tic. Ltd. Şti.	Mustafa Ulucan
Oyak Beton San. ve Tic. AŞ	Erhan Turan
Yaşar Cihan H.B. İnş. Hafr. Tic. AŞ	Fatih Vardar
Nuh Beton AŞ	Onurhan Kiçki
Kibsaş Karadeniz İnş. ve Beton San. Tic. AŞ	Şenol Üçüncü
Özgüven Müh. Tur. Taah. San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti.	Elif Özgüven
Bursa Beton San. ve Tic. AŞ	Barbaros Onulay
Paksoy Hazır Beton San. ve Tic. AŞ	Mustafa Kemal Paksoy

Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Association Supervisory Board Members
Betoçim Çimento ve Bet. Ür. Tic. Ltd. Şti.	Abdürrahim Eksik
Asdur Beton San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti.	Mehmet Ali Durmaz
Çimsa Çimento San. ve Tic. AŞ	Ali Ergölen