Murat Savcı Elected New Chairman of Türkiye İMSAD

At the 39th Ordinary General Assembly of the Turkish Building Materials Manufacturers Association (Türkiye İMSAD), the boards of management and audit that will serve for the 2026-2029 period were determined. At the meeting held on 5 March 2026 at the Marriott Asia, Murat Savcı, CEO of Saint Gobain Turkey and Member of the Board of Directors of Izoçam and Weber, was elected to the Chairmanship of the Board of Directors of Türkiye İMSAD.

At the 39th Ordinary General Assembly of Türkiye İMSAD, the roof organisation of the building materials sector, the new management was determined. At the first Board of Directors meeting of the new period of Türkiye İMSAD, Murat Savcı was elected unanimously to the Chairmanship of the Board of Directors. Murat Savcı stated, "While we continue the projects we carried out in the previous period at full speed in the new period, we will determine our course together with the contribution of our valued members and the experience of our committees, and we will implement new projects that will expand our sphere of influence."

"Our sector's mastery of chaos management is our greatest guarantee to seize historic opportunities"
Tayfun Küçükoğlu, Board of Directors Chairman of Türkiye İMSAD for the 2020-2023 and 2023-2026 periods, shared the work carried out during his tenure and his assessments regarding the sector, saying: "Over the past 6 years, we have gone through a difficult period marked by global pandemic, economic turbulence and a major earthquake disaster. Despite all these shocks, our building materials industry increased its exports to USD 31 billion and rose to the position of the world's 5th largest producer. Our sector's mastery of 'chaos management' during this period is our greatest guarantee to seize the historic opportunities of the coming decade."

"We are passing the baton, but our responsibilities will continue"
Tayfun Küçükoğlu said: "The excitement I felt six years ago when I took on this honourable task has now given way to great peace and pride. As a sector, we were tired but we grew stronger. Anatolia has always offered hope; it is a geography where those who think positively and struggle for development reap the rewards. The 42-year-old rooted traditions and corporate structure of Türkiye İMSAD are the key to our success. Today we are passing the baton, but our responsibilities will continue to grow. I am grateful to the Board of Directors colleagues I worked with, our committees, our stakeholders and our professional team. I sincerely wish success to the colleagues who will take on roles in the new period," concluding his remarks.

"We are embarking on a journey to expand Türkiye İMSAD's sphere of influence and create value"
Beginning his remarks by thanking the previous period Chairman Tayfun Küçükoğlu and the Board of Directors for their valuable contributions to the sector and Türkiye İMSAD, Murat Savcı, CEO of Saint-Gobain Turkey and Member of the Board of Directors of Weber, Izoçam and Dalsan, members of Türkiye İMSAD, stated: "The work carried out by our 38th Period Board of Directors has created a solid foundation on which we can set new targets today. We are embarking on this journey to take this strong foundation further, expand Türkiye İMSAD's sphere of influence and create value. We are determined to fulfil this responsibility, which we have undertaken with the confidence you have shown in our Board of Directors, with an effective, inclusive and results-focused approach."

"We will determine our course together and implement new projects"
Murat Savcı, noting that the coming period will expand its sphere of influence alongside continuing activities, stated: "Türkiye İMSAD is the platform of collective strength for our sector and the representative of collective wisdom. Global transformations and economic fluctuations demonstrate the importance of solidarity and innovative approaches more than ever. While we continue the projects we carried out in the previous period at full speed in the new period, with the contribution of our valued members and the experience of our committees, we will determine our course together and implement new projects. In the new period, our efforts will continue especially in the areas of our country's earthquake safety, our sector's international competitiveness and exports, digitalisation, sustainability and green transition, regulations and legislation, quality, R&D, innovation, relations with government, other institutions and associations."

"Our unity will strengthen our sector's power"
In his remarks, Murat Savcı recalled Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's vision of "Peace at home, peace in the world," saying: "We see how correct and directional this vision, which forms one of the fundamental principles of our Republic, is as we look at the events and wars in our immediate neighbourhood these days. On this occasion, I wish for all wars in our nearby geography to end as soon as possible and for all people in the region to have peace and tranquillity. I once again thank all our members and stakeholders for their confidence, support and contributions. I hope that the new period of Türkiye İMSAD will bring us all success, strength and inspiration. I believe that our unity will strengthen our sector's power and enable us to make stronger contributions to our country's sustainable development," concluding his remarks.

Sustainable energy solutions represent a strategic playing field for Türkiye İMSAD members
At the 39th Ordinary General Assembly of Türkiye İMSAD, Kerem Alkin, Dean of the Faculty of Communication at Istanbul Topkapı University and Ambassador, gave a presentation titled "Energy Geopolitics and 2026 Scenarios." Noting that the world is entering a new era called "Second Mercantilism," where knowledge and data are absolute power, Kerem Alkin emphasised that changes in global trade corridors and competition over critical minerals hold new opportunities and risks for the construction industry. Highlighting the growing energy needs of data centres, Kerem Alkin stated that next-generation building materials and sustainable energy solutions used in the construction of these centres represent a strategic playing field for Türkiye İMSAD members. Kerem Alkin also stressed that geopolitical pressures on gold, copper and energy prices in 2026 have initiated a "cost management" process that must be closely monitored by industrialists.

In addition to geopolitical pressures on gold, copper and energy prices, Kerem Alkin warned that fluctuations in the dollar index could affect export markets through the euro-dollar parity. In this "cost management" process that must be closely monitored by industrialists, he emphasised that financial resilience against high credit costs and inflationary pressures, and participation in new-generation trade corridors (Belt and Road Initiative, Three Seas Initiative, etc.) are indispensable strategies.