Yavuz IŞIK
THBB Yönetim Kurulu Başkanı
President
We successfully represent our sector on international platforms. We hosted the European Ready Mixed Concrete Organization (ERMCO) Board of Directors meeting held in Istanbul in September. Turkey's leadership in the ready mixed concrete sector was once again highlighted at the meeting where the developments in the European ready mixed concrete sector were discussed.
The construction sector is the locomotive of the Turkish economy. Many infrastructure investments have been made in Turkey, which has been growing and developing in recent years. One of the largest airports in the world was built in Istanbul where the heart of Turkey beats. Many new investments have been made in Istanbul, such as the immersed tube tunnel project Marmaray and the highway tunnel project Eurasia Tunnel, which are the lines that connect two continents below the sea; the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge; the Osman Gazi Bridge, which is the suspension bridge with the world's fourth longest span; the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, which is the world's longest suspension bridge; and the Yusufeli Dam, which is the world's fifth highest dam. During this entire process, Turkey became one of the countries where ready mixed concrete was used the most. The eyes of both Europe and the world will continue to be on us with infrastructure investments in Turkey. According to 2023 data, our sector makes a substantial contribution to the construction sector and, accordingly, to the country's economy, with its turnover of 7 billion euros, as well as its employment volume of up to 40 thousand and an annual production of 115 million cubic meters. Our sector, which is the most basic branch of the construction industry, continues its leadership in Europe with this production volume.
At the meeting where I conveyed all the above issues to our guests from Europe, ERMCO President Thorsten Hahn stated that they watch the rapid development and successful practices of the ready mixed concrete sector in Turkey with admiration and said that they see and appreciate that under the leadership of ERMCO, together with the members of Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Association in other European countries, they are spearheading the sector by making intense efforts to make concrete more sustainable and circular day by day.