This was stated by Kerim Dilber, the head of two-member Turkish delegation that called on LCCI Senior Vice President Kashif Younis Meher here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday.
LCCI former Executive Committee Members Javaid Iqbal Mughal, Mian Zahid Javaid and Turkish delegate Ms Emine Aksu also spoke on the occasion. Kerim Dilber said that the during their stay in Pakistan, the members of the Assessment Mission would hold meetings with Steel Industry people for initiating Joint Ventures in Pakistan.
He said that a second Turkish delegation also from the Steel Industry would also visit Pakistan as soon as the first delegation completes its findings.
Giving a briefing about Turkish Steel Sector, Kerim Dilber said that Turkey has become the 10th biggest producer globally and 2nd largest steel producer in Europe. In fact, Turkey was the third fastest growing steel producer in the world between the period 2001 and 2010 after China and India.
Steel production in Turkey has increased significantly since 2001, growing from 15 million tons in 2001 to 29.1 million tons in 2010. Growth of the industry in Turkey has been driven in part by strong domestic consumption.
Within the five years period between 2005 - 2010 per capita crude steel consumption in Turkey has increased to 340 kg, and is expected to continue to grow in the medium and long term.
In addition to the strong domestic demand and dynamic steel consuming industries, Turkey’s well placed geographical position also supports exports and thus production.
He said that Turkey is a major player in world steel production and exportation. The country has a proven track record of producing quality products to meet market needs of investing in and expanding flat products production capacity and developing new technologies.
He said Turkish steel industry has seen considerable innovations over the past two decades, reflecting a commitment to respond to evaluations in world steel markets. In the first seven months of 2011 global output reached 886.8 million tons up by 8.26% on the same period of 2010. Thus Turkey realized the biggest increase with 21 percent among the top steel producers of world.
Today all steel production companies in Turkey are privately held and Turkish steelmakers continue to pursue technological developments to enhance the long term viability of the industry in the global market place.
Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI Senior Vice President Kashif Younis Meher said that collaboration between the steel sectors of the two brotherly countries could create a win-win situation on three counts.
It would help Pakistani businessmen to have access to European market besides enabling the Turkish counterparts to win Central Asian States and Afghanistan. While, he said, the transfer of Turkish technology would further strengthen the local steel sector that is presently being dominated by the Indian technology.
Kashif Younis Meher said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce would extend every possible help to Turkish businessmen in their pursuit to expand business activities.
