Interview with LABSİAD President Ahmet T. Öğretmen

LABSİAD, which brings laboratory product manufacturers under one roof, aims to provide solutions to the sector's problems. In our interview, LABSİAD Chairman Ahmet T. Öğretmen provided information about the sector's general condition and future.

Could you briefly tell our readers about yourself, your educational background and professional experience?

I graduated from METU Department of Electrical Engineering in 1983. I worked as an Electrical Engineer in Saudi Arabia for 3 years. I founded my own company in 1986 and have been working in the laboratory sector for 30 years.

Could you provide information about the Laboratory Products Manufacturers and Businessmen Association? What are the association's founding purposes and objectives?

The Laboratory Products Manufacturers and Businessmen Association, or LABSİAD for short, is the first and only association in this newly emerging sector, founded in May 2015. It is growing rapidly with over a hundred members in a short time. Our aim is to create unity in our sector, defend our members' rights against the state and other institutions, reduce technical education gaps for our members and their employees through planned educational activities, provide favorable conditions for our members at trade fairs and other meetings, and find solutions to problems our members may face.

Laboratory Products rank among the most important components of R&D activities. In this context, how and to what extent does the Laboratory Products Manufacturers and Businessmen Association contribute to R&D and technology activities in our country? What responsibilities fall to associations, public and private sectors in developing technology in our country?

Turkey is a rapidly developing country and with successive publication of European Union regulations, there are difficulties in users and sellers adapting to this new environment. With the support provided by the state on R&D, growth of this sector and rapid, quality supply of products needed by this sector is essential. The standards of services provided and domestic manufacturer companies in Turkey must be raised. For this reason, cooperation between domestic manufacturers and universities is necessary.

Evaluating from the perspective of the chemical sector, could you share your thoughts on the current situation and what needs to be done in the areas of sustainable raw materials, production and environmental impacts?

I believe that European environmental legislation being rapidly implemented in Turkey will initially challenge manufacturers and importers, but they will adapt over time. I believe that when these regulations are enforced strictly, they will be beneficial for the environment and human health. Particularly for the chemical sector, creation and incentivization of supervised production zones will enable the sector to grow rapidly in compliance with standards and compete internationally.

Taking into account trade with the European Union, could we learn your views on ADR (European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road) and other legal regulations? Do you think the current situation in our country meets all requirements, and what are our shortcomings?

In our meetings, it has been stated that these regulations imposed within the framework of harmonization may be somewhat difficult in terms of Turkey's conditions. While many opinions suggest that Turkey is not sufficiently prepared for these, it is inevitable that society will quickly absorb these new rules and embark on a production and service mobilization with greater competitiveness and higher standards.

In terms of the chemical sector, what do you think are Turkey's advantages and disadvantages? Can you provide numerical information about Turkey's position in the global market? How do you predict the chemical sector will change and develop in the coming years, could you share your views?

Generally speaking, I can say that during the European Union transition phase, Turkey is fortunate as an investment location. Through R&D work to be conducted, we can reach a good position by increasing quality and productivity.

Is there anything you would like to add and any message you would like to convey to the sector?

I would like to state that our association is open to cooperation proposals with other associations and institutions to bring the chemical and laboratory sector to a better position in Turkey.