There are some cities that are not merely lands lived upon. They are hubs that shape the future of a country, transforming hard work into production and production into prosperity. Today, Tekirdağ is one of those cities. Bringing together the abundance of the Marmara region with the strength of industry, this beautiful city has evolved over the years into not just an industrial basin where factories rise, but a powerful industrial powerhouse that shoulders Türkiye’s economic and social development.

The Çerkezköy Organized Industrial Zone is not merely a witness to this great journey, but one of its primary driving forces. With 50 years of accumulated experience, COIZ represents a perspective that carries the boundaries of production beyond factory walls. True industrial strength does not simply manufacture; it transforms its geography. It generates employment, enhances surrounding community life, contributes to education, shoulders social responsibility, and does not view itself apart from the society it operates within.

The inauguration of Kapaklı State Hospital stands as one of the most meaningful examples of this vision. Built by COIZ, this valuable institution serves as a concrete manifestation of our industrialists’ responsibility to reinvest the value they create back into their community. As expressed by the Governor of Tekirdağ, Mr. Recep Soytürk, the philanthropic ethos of our regional industrialists—spanning education to healthcare—is profoundly precious. Opened with the honor of the presence of Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu and Minister of Industry and Technology Mr. Mehmet Fatih Kacır, the hospital is the fruit of institutional responsibility and collective wisdom, extending far beyond individual philanthropy. In the words of our Minister of Industry, Mr. Kacır, our manufacturing industry adding value to the social infrastructure of its host city stands as a robust reflection of industrialists taking ownership of their city and workforce.

The significance of this accomplishment goes well beyond a mere hospital facility. This hospital is a testament to the powerful bond forged between industry and community. The fact that the very individuals manufacturing for Türkiye in its factories can access qualified healthcare within their own city whenever needed is the finest proof that production cannot be separated from humanity, nor humanity from its living environment.

The industrial stature achieved by Tekirdağ today is by no means coincidental. Our city carries an ever-increasing weight on Türkiye’s investment and production landscape.

However, assuming that the future is secure merely by looking at rising factory structures would be misleading. The realities confronting Turkish industry today clearly illustrate our pressing challenges alongside our notable successes.

Today, our industrialists do not simply manufacture; they grapple simultaneously with elevated costs, financing constraints, softening demand conditions, energy prices, foreign exchange and competitive pressures, and an increasingly rigorous global race. Moreover, while managing all these challenges, they are expected to maintain investments, adapt to technology, realize the green transition, and safeguard their positions in export markets.

The Istanbul Chamber of Industry’s Türkiye Manufacturing PMI data continues to take the pulse of our industrial sector. Recording a PMI of 48.1 in August and remaining below the 50 neutral threshold indicates that operating conditions across the manufacturing industry remain within contraction territory. Behind each of these figures lies a manufacturing plant, an investment decision, the dedicated labor of hundreds of employees, and an industrialist’s forward-looking calculations. Every contraction in PMI is not just an adjustment in an index value; it may herald a slowdown on the assembly line, a deferred capital expenditure, or escalating cost pressures.

The warnings voiced by Mr. Erdal Bahçıvan, President of the Istanbul Chamber of Industry, regarding the risks of deindustrialization are therefore of vital importance. Calls from Mr. Seyit Ardıç, President of the Ankara Chamber of Industry, emphasizing the preservation of production stability highlight the very same reality. The fight against inflation is undeniably essential. Yet, while achieving price stability, we must ensure we do not erode our manufacturing capacity, investment appetite, and the competitive edge of our industrialists. Industry is not merely a sector carrying today’s economy; it lays the foundation for future technology, employment, exports, added value, and national independence.

Today, nations across the globe are competing not only to secure markets, but also to protect their manufacturing capabilities. Supply chains are reshaping, technology rivalries are escalating, and the green transition introduces new rules of engagement. In such an era, it is insufficient for Türkiye merely to defend its manufacturing power; we must advance it toward a higher value-added, more technological, more efficient, and more sustainable structure.

At COIZ, despite this demanding landscape, we look to the future with confidence. Our foundation rests not only on factories and production output, but on an enduring industrial culture built over decades, our hardworking people, and an unwavering sense of responsibility toward our country.

COIZ has once again reached the summit in its drive toward green and sustainable manufacturing. Advancing from Silver to Gold Level, COIZ became the first among the 31 Green OIZ certified zones across Türkiye to accomplish this milestone. This historic success stands as a proud testament to COIZ’s environmentally responsible production approach.

I wish all my fellow industrialists joyful, peaceful, and prosperous production days ahead.

Eyüp SÖZDİNLER

Chairman of the Board 

Çerkezköy Organized Industrial Zone (COIZ)