Speaking on Tuesday in İzmir, Arkas Holding CEO Önder Türkkanı said Schenker has followed the Anadolu Project closely, adding that the German firm had conveyed its intention to partner in the project. Türkkanı said they expected to resume talks in the coming months in regards to the planned partnership. The project aims to connect nine important Turkish trading cities to nearby ports via railways. Recalling that all of the necessary land purchases for the project were completed in 2008, Türkkanı said they expected to kick-start the project once the government introduces a new law that will enable private companies to purchase and use locomotives. Noting that the Ministry of Transportation has recently focused on the issue, Türkkanı said they expect the law to be introduced before the end of 2010. “Following the introduction of the new law, we could create $200 million of investments only for locomotive procurements,” he explained.
Türkkanı stated that the project has gained more importance within the past year since Turkey has branched out into new export markets in the region. “Investors are well aware that a fast railway connection through Turkey will be one of the best ways for them to reach emerging markets in the Middle East.” Noting that the negative effects of the global financial crisis were an obstacle hindering 2009 targets, the company CEO said they hoped things would improve in the coming year. Türkkanı stated that the project would provide a relatively safer and faster means of transportation, a prominent step that could decrease companies’ production costs. Mentioning possible future connections to the Anadolu Project, he said they expected to connect with the Marmaray Project, which will connect the European and Asian sides of İstanbul with a railway under the Bosporus.
