Many early entrepreneurs of the modern Turkish Republic were from Kayseri but later moved their headquarters to İstanbul. Thanks to the economic liberalization policies of late President Turgut Özal, a new generation of businessmen emerged in Kayseri. Now it is not only a trade center but also an industrial hub of the region.
My job gives me the opportunity to visit different parts of Anatolia occasionally and this time we had the privilege of visiting this particular city of entrepreneurs. In a joint Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON)-Center for American Progress effort, American scholars had a chance to visit Turkey's various regions and see how they have developed over the last couple of decades. What now makes Turkey a strong man in a sick Europe are the questions we tackle. The Kayseri Young Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (GESİAD) was gracious enough to host us on our recent trip.
When you talk to the architects of this success story, you realize that this is neither a coincidence nor just a one-man show. A very well studied and implemented comprehensive strategy is the recipe for this pie.
The first industrial zone was established here in 1976, but it started witnessing real development after the political tension of the '70s eased in the early 1980s. By 2002, eight million square meters of land was utilized by industrial developments, making the city one of the leading industrial hubs in Central Anatolia. In the stable economic environment and more predictable business climate the city's business leaders decided to triple the area of the industrial zone and within four months they had successfully managed to secure the necessary permits, a process which usually takes more than two years.
The president of the industrial zone, Ahmet Hasyüncü, proudly gave us the figures. More than 50,000 employees work in over 900 factories in the zone today. He said their first objective was to decrease the time wasted due to political and bureaucratic processes. In another meeting, the president of Boydak Holding, Hacı Boydak, told a similar story about his own company. In 1983, their factory had only 1,000 square meters dedicated to production whereas it now covers 1.25 million square meters. GESİAD President Hamdi Kınas emphasized the importance of synergy between businesspeople, universities, city leaders and government officials. “Business delegations organized by not only the government but also civil society initiatives open us up to the world. We realized how small the world we are living in today is and we are aware of the opportunities waiting for us,” he said.
Nowadays the city's businesses are active in many sectors, but especially in furniture, machinery, textiles, metals and household appliances. The governor of the city brought a new vision to Kayseri and gave the city's industrialists two new targets: Heavy industries and defense. “Mount Erciyes is a hidden jewel for us,” said Melikgazi Mayor Memduh Büyükkılıç. The Melikgazi Municipality planned a series of construction projects worth more than 250 million euros which are expected to host thousands of tourists daily. They include a long skiing track, hotels, restaurants, conference venues and social clubs. Half of these projects have already been completed. Together with Cappadocia, this area will be a key tourism hub.
Being far away from ports -- 320 kilometers from Mersin, for example -- is a disadvantage for the city. The cost of sending containers to Mersin is more expensive than sending them from Mersin overseas. But this setback has not stopped the municipality and already investments into railroads and highways have been secured. In 2011, Kayseri exported $1.5 billion worth of products to more than 100 countries. With the new investments in infrastructure and tourism, the city's business leaders are confident that these numbers will soon be so insignificant that they will have been forgotten.
Sometimes political polarization and tensions, together with the media's exaggeration of those events, make your life miserable. Anatolian businesses are fed up with endless debates that go nowhere. Turkey is now close to becoming the leading power in its region. Its geographical position and the current international economic environment give Turkey a unique opportunity which Anatolian businesses, including those in Kayseri, do not want to see their country miss out on. The groundwork that has already been laid will guarantee their future success.
