- “WE ARE AWAITING A SUSTAINABLE, COMPETITIVE AND INVESTMENT-PROMOTING INDUSTRY POLICY COVERING WORKFORCE AND TAX POLICIES TOGETHER WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES”
- “OUR ECONOMY AND INDUSTRY POLICIES NEED COMPREHENSIVE, LONG-TERM, BOLD AND REALISTIC REFORMS”
- “A GROWTH OF 3-4% IS A GOOD PERFORMANCE BUT NOT ENOUGH, WE SHOULD ACHIEVE A GROWTH OF 5-6%”
- “TURKEY SHOILD MAKE A NEW TECHNOLOGY REFORM”
- “SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE SHOILD BE SCHEDULED AND UNINTERRUPTED”
- “INDUSTRY AND PRODUCTION REQUIRE A LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE, PATIENCE AND PERSISTENCE”
Güler Sabancı, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Sabancı Holding made the opening speech of “Brisa Sustainable Change Conference”. In her speech, Sabancı shared her findings about economy and her expectations from the new industrial strategy which is being prepared.
Sabancı told the following: “Considering the economic and political developments in the world, what have happened in the neighboring countries, the effects of the climate change and the long election period in our country, a growth of 3-4% accomplished through a financial discipline skillfully implemented can be accepted as a good performance.
However, it is not enough in the future; our goal should be to obtain a growth of 5-6% without ruining the financial stability.
Being a country which has social peace, a law reform and a new constitution and which “trusts its future” in unity comes first; but we need to make a comprehensive, long-term, bold and realistic reform in our economy and industry policy in order to achieve a growth of at least 5-6%.
Value-added chains are dramatically changing with new technologies throughout the world, and new technologies, innovation and entrepreneurship remove the boundaries between the service sector and industry sector.
- “WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW INDUSTRY POLICY”
Turkey can achieve the rapid growth that we want only if it is integrated with this new technology reform through its industry in particular. In this respect, we welcome the explanations of the Esteemed Prime Minister Davutoğlu and of Mr. Ali Babacan prioritizing and attaching importance to industry. Industry and production require a long-term, patient and persevering effort. That Prime Minister Davutoğlu has mentioned about their long-term perspective to the issues about the economy of Turkey and that an industrial strategy study is projected for the period of 2015-2018 in the government’s program have made us very pleased. We are looking forward to a study focused on a new industry policy which considers future technologies, prioritizes sustainability and competitiveness, steers the educational needs of our dynamic youth, directs our capital and financing infrastructure to think long-term and which regulates our workforce and tax policies in a manner to enable us to leap forward.”
- CONFERENCE…
Sabancı continued her speech as follows: “The foundations of our conference which we are organizing for the 25th time today were laid with the first National Quality Award of Brisa in 1993 and with the European Quality Award in 1996. Brisa, which began its quality travel 20 years ago with these grand awards, has assumed leadership in transferring its experience to its stakeholders and has made this sharing traditional as today’s event.
The world and the humanity are undergoing a great change: urbanization, change of climate, participation of women in every field, limitless mobility and communication… We all have great responsibilities to think the future more, to dream about the future world and to predict now the needs of the future generations.
Therefore, this gathering which is organized for the 25th time this year and which was previously called the “Improvement Conference” is now called “Brisa Sustainable Change Conference” so that it should pioneer new changes.
At the heart of the Total Quality studies started at the beginning of 90s lies the then change period of the globalized world. This period which also involved Sabancı Holding and Brisa made quality product, customer satisfaction and advanced technologies important and of top priority in all sectors in Turkey. That this change should be “sustainable” underlies the economic development of our country. We can see that the transformation of technology and knowledge into result-oriented and difference-making practices through “innovation” is also an underlying factor and adds value to the society.
I would like to emphasize once more what Mr. Sakıp Sabancı whom we remember with deep respect on the 10th year of his departure told in the opening of this conference in 1997. The late Mr. Sakıp used to say that “total quality relates to everywhere where people are in. We will continuously search for the better not only in the business life but also in painting, poetry, novel and politics as well.” As also told by the late Mr. Sakıp, the concept of quality is a journey, not a destination… An endless journey… In this journey, one should continuously search for the better, to question what we have done all right today on the next day and to be open to making and being subject to change.
- “INNOVATION”, “SUSTAINABILITY” AND “ENTREPRENEURSHIP”…
As we make this questioning continuously for the better, we should not forget that at the center lie people, and needs and expectations of people. People who are in close touch with technology and communication and who are undergoing a rapid change every day! People who have new needs and expectations… Therefore, in order to lead such a change, it is a must to offer genius solutions for the needs of the changing society which have still not been defined. And the driving forces behind this are “innovation”, “sustainability” and “entrepreneurship”.
We included all these 3 driving forces in our entire processes at Sabancı. We attach importance to seeing the potential, acting proactively, developing new approaches and new business models with our competitiveness and offering new solutions. In order to make possible the understanding of “making a difference” which is also covered in our vision, we are trying to create environments where new ideas will come out. We are trying to provide the “proper climate” for our employees in order to transform innovative ideas into concrete successes through our innovation processes. In the recent years, an environment has been trying to be created which supports entrepreneurship, innovation and research. A great advance has been attained in the research infrastructure. However, supports should continue without any interruption and as scheduled.
Sabancı University which ranks among the top in the interuniversity entrepreneurship and innovation index performed by the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology makes us proud. Our university (setting a good example) brings the academic knowledge of innovation, entrepreneurship and technology with the business life in collaboration with private sector. As I look at our young people, I see that they understand well sustainability, environment and technology, that they are open to change, that they embrace innovations and that they work actively as entrepreneurs. Hopefully, a new generation is coming to whom Turkey can deliver its innovation-, quality- and skilled labor-focused program it has adopted at the macro level.
Sabancı told that the theme of the conference was called the “Future of the Journey” for a reason and went on speaking as follows: “It is a must to set out well-prepared and well-equipped in order to perceive what awaits us as a society and to take leadership in the journey. And for this, we have a great opportunity to listen to experience from different sectors and to learn from each other. I strongly believe that what we will speak here today will be effective in “the Turkey’s journey of future as well”. As for the future, we are planning to implement our new Aksaray investment that we have decided together with our partner with the same understanding and principle in the near future of Brisa. The new Brisa factory will be established with an investment of USD300 million. Thanks to its tire capacity of 4.2 million, Brisa’s capacity will increase by 30%. Also because this investment will be made in the 5th area, a significant tax incentive will be provided.”