The 40th Anniversary of the Turkish Maritime Industry’s umbrella organization, Istanbul and Marmara, Aegean, Mediterranean, Black Sea Regions (IMEAK) Chamber of Shipping (DTO), was celebrated with a special night held on Friday, August 26, 2022.
Tamer Kıran, Chairman of the IMEAK Chamber of Shipping, Salih Zeki Çakır, Speaker of the IMEAK, and the members of the Board of Directors hosted the night, which was attended by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu, Deputy Governor of Istanbul Sevket Atlı, President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) Mustafa Gültepe, President of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) Şekib Avdagiç, NGOs and representatives of the maritime sector, and members of the IMEAK DTO Assembly and Professional Committees.
Tamer Kıran, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IMEAK DTO, made the opening speech at the night that started with the screening of the 40th Anniversary video, which explains the point that IMEAK Chamber of Shipping has reached since its establishment.
Stating that the brave and entrepreneurial people who shouldered our maritime business took a very important step 40 years ago and established the Chamber of Shipping, Tamer Kıran said, “The establishment of the Chamber of Shipping, the flagship of our Civil Navy, has been a turning point for our industry. This turning point paved the way for institutionalization and acceptance as a sector in maritime. Our Chamber, which started its activities 40 years ago, has pioneered the development and flourishing of the sector in every field, and has made the greatest contribution to the construction of many building blocks while coming to its current state. Our Chamber, which was established with 744 members, has taken its place among the largest chambers in Türkiye with its approximately 10 thousand members.”
“We are Proud of the Services Provided by Our Maritime Industry at International Quality”
Looking at the important milestones of the last 40 years with the establishment of the chamber, Tamer Kıran stated that important decisions were instrumental in paving the way for Turkish maritime, and said:
“In this process, we see that Turkish maritime has started to leave the Black Sea and Mediterranean regions and go overseas, and our flag has started to wave all over the world. At the point we have arrived, we are proudly waving the Turkish Flag on all the seas of the world. While we were carrying out coastal transportation with puller yesterday, today we are going on voyages to the whole world with our experienced marine employees. While we used to repair and maintain caulk in the Golden Horn, today we are building ships for many countries of the world with our 84 shipyards, designing our national defense ships, and manufacturing them with great success. We are proud of the international quality services provided by our ports, agencies, marine tourism activities, and, in short, our maritime industry as a whole.”
“We Are Going Through a Period Where We Need New Success Stories”
Pointed out that the world has witnessed many political, economic, technological, and social developments in the recent period and that while the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have not completely disappeared yet, new uncertainties and fluctuations are increasing day by day, Tamer Kıran said that the future will be those who understand the rapidly changing and increasingly complex new world, and those who foresee the changes and determine the roadmap accordingly.
“There is no doubt that we are going through a period where we need new success stories in the maritime industry.” Tamer Kıran said:
“Our Chamber continues to be the guide of the Turkish maritime industry today, depending on its founding mission, keeping up with the development of the age and time, but without compromising its traditions. All our efforts and endeavors are to raise this flag, which we have inherited from our elders, and to bring our industry to the place it deserves in the world. While we try to be useful to our country with the love of the country that runs through our veins, we strive for a prosperous Türkiye. With the strength we derive from our past and our belief in the future, we have full faith that we will successfully achieve this transformation by joining hands with our state.”
“We Have Never Forgotten Our Young People, Greatest Wealth of Our”
Stating that as the Chamber of Shipping, always attach great importance to maritime education and give their best support, Tamer Kıran said, “One of our most important efforts is the investments we make in education. We know that we will overcome many difficulties that we will face in the future thanks to our well-educated young people. The most important investment of our chamber, our apple of the eye, our Piri Reis University, with its academic studies, well-equipped students, and successful faculty members in the short time since its establishment, is not only one of the prominent universities of Türkiye but is taking firm steps towards being among the universities recognized in the world in its field.”
Tamer Kıran concluded his words as follows:
“With these feelings and thoughts, I commemorate with mercy and gratitude all our elders and managers who founded our Chamber of Shipping laid the foundations of our civil maritime business, devoted themselves to the development of Turkish maritime, and who have served well, and who are no longer with us, and I wish health and happiness to those who are still alive. I would like to express my respect and gratitude to everyone who contributed to this success story that has been knitted for 40 years. I pray to God that our Chamber, which rises on the cherished memories of our elders, will reach many 40 years.”
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu: “The Maritime Industry Is Indispensable”
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu drew attention to the fact that the volume of freight carried by marine on a global basis has grown more than 20 times in the last 50 years, and this situation has made the maritime sector the most strategic sector in global trade, and said, “The maritime industry has transformed from being just a type of transportation in the 21st century into an industry, trade and service branch. At this point, within the framework of our country’s goal of being among the top 10 economies of the world, the maritime sector is indispensable.”
Karaismailoğlu stated that they have seen the great contributions of the Chamber of Shipping and sector representatives in the growth and change in every field of maritime, and said: “If Türkiye has remembered its identity as a maritime country and a maritime nation once again, our ministry, which determines the policies, makes the necessary arrangements and makes the necessary investments, has acted together with the sector players. At this point, I would like to point out that the members of the Chamber of Shipping in Istanbul and Marmara, Aegean, the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea Regions are of great importance to us. We do not doubt that our chamber will set an example for future generations with the knowledge and experience it has created in the past 40 years, and that this distinguished institution will continue to serve in the same direction forever. We will continue to do our part, and we will maintain our strong union with you. As a result of this, Türkiye will have its weight in the maritime field seen more in the future and will become one of the leading countries in the maritime sector by increasing its competitive power.”
Minister Karaismailoğlu congratulated the 40th anniversary of IMEAK DTO and wished that it would continue its activities by adding new successes all the time.
TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu: “Our President Tamer represents you in Ankara in the best possible way”
TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that maritime is the most strategic sector in global trade, where competition is most intense; “It is not the duty of every brave man to stay standing and to wave our country’s flag in all seas. Therefore, all of our seafarers who are struggling in the global arena deserve a special congratulations.”
Stating that the Chamber of Shipping is proud of its 40 years of experience and prestige, its institutional structure that it has continuously strengthened, the projects it has implemented, and the work it has brought to our country’s maritime sector, Hisarcıklıoğlu said:
“Today, our Chamber has become to serve its members at the same standard as the most powerful chambers in Europe provide service to their members, and it has been accredited as well documented. This contemporary vision and professional management style exhibited by our chamber is a great gain for our country and our industry. Our Chamber has carried this success to TOBB as well. Our Tamer President is my colleague in TOBB management and we work together. It represents you in the best way in Ankara. TOBB has a great effort and contribution to the level and service capacity it has reached today. We constantly bring your problems and requests to the TOBB administration and we seek solutions by conveying them to the relevant people, especially our Minister. We have received positive results from most of the issues we have conveyed. I am very happy to work with him and to have him as my travel mate. I say God bless you for your hard work. I sincerely congratulate my dear brother Tamer Kıran, the Board of Directors, the Assembly, our secretary general, and all my working siblings.”
TİM President Gültepe: “As exporters, we consider it a duty to provide full support to the goals set by the DTO”
Mustafa Gültepe, Chairman of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM), pointed out that they see the Maritime sector as a strategic partner for exporters. Gültepe stated that the Turkish Maritime industry has achieved great success that deserves appreciation and said:
“It is extremely important that we develop our existing cooperation and work with the Chamber of Shipping. Because the production, exporter, and carrier need to look in the same direction and believe in the same goal. We look in the same direction as the valuable maritime trade community, and we work together for the same purposes to add value to this country. We will continue to work. Considering our fast-growing economy and exports, the need for the Turkish Maritime industry will increase at the same rate. As exporters, we consider it a duty to provide full support to our Chamber in line with the goals and projections set by the Chamber of Shipping. Hopefully, we will reach our goals together with the spirit of cooperation and solidarity.”
The night ended with the concert of the Enbe Orchestra.