*Aydin Dinçer, the Chairman of Istanbul Mineral Exporters’ Association (İMİB) stated: “We have to work without any objection and ego for the mining sector.”
* Mevlüt Kaya, the Chairman of Aegean Mineral Exporters’ Association (EMİB) said: “It does not matter who drives the car for the future of the mining industry. I am willing to be the car assistant of the mining industry. “
Aydın Dinçer, the Chairman of İMİB, and Mevlüt Kaya, the Chairman of EMİB, gave a message that the Association of Turkish Marble, Natural Stone and Machinery Manufacturers (TÜMMER), Istanbul Mineral Exporters’ Association and Aegean Mineral Exporters Association would set a common roadmap for the future of the mining sector.
Mevlüt Kaya, Chairman of the Aegean Mineral Exporters’ Association (EMİB), and Aydın Dincer, who was elected as the Chairman of the Istanbul Mineral Exporters’ Association (İMİB) on November 5, 2017, held a press conference together with members of the Board of Directors of the two unions in İzmir.
“We are happy to be in this picture”
Kaya, the Chairman of EMİB, defined the mining industry as “a sector that has created miracles in 35 years” and said: “Today, we did this. We are honored to be in this picture. We realized a perspective that puts me ahead and prioritizes us. We made a breakthrough with the Istanbul Mineral Exporters’ Association (IMİB). İMİB is the most deeply rooted and greatest ally of us. İMİB has an important position with its scope. Our common shareholder is our country. We are more powerful with IMİB. ”
“We must act together”
Kaya said: “We observed in the past 3.5 years that we are more successful and get more positive results when we use concrete information rather than abstract one. We are manufacturer exporters’ associations. 96 percent of our members are producer exporters. We cannot say that he production and the problems of the sector do nor concern us. We must act together in this sector. If we cannot make the necessary contributions, we will not have a chance to export. We cannot sell anything if we do not have the goods. In this context, we see a positive discrimination from the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Economy. We are quickly solving the problems.”
Dinçer: “We will work together for the mining sector”
Aydın Dinçer, the Chairman of İMİB, reminded that the mining sector could not gather for the last 4 years and that even the Sector Board Meetings could not be held. Dinçer added: “We were unable to hold the EMIB and IMIB sector board meetings. Somehow, we could not come together. But our industry must come together with all its associations in absolute terms. All our associations must be able to sit on the same table without any conflict. This is also very important for the sector. After the election on November 5, we started to work together with EMİB, TÜMMER, Turkish Miners Association, Aegean Region Association of Miners and other mining related institutions and associations. It would be embarrassing for us not to be united whereas the names of our institutions indicate being a unity. We have already had this responsibility and after November 5, we met with EMİB members.”
İMİB will have a booth in Izmir Marble Fair
Dinçer, defining Izmir Marble Natural Stone and Technology Fair as one of the most important fairs in the world, said: “We support İzmir Marble Fair with our heart and soul. I personally participated in the Marble Advisory Board Meeting. 1100 companies of us will join there. İMİB is going to participate in the same booth with EMİB, TÜMMER and the General Directorate of Mining Affairs.”
10-month mining exports reached to $ 3.9 billion
Dinçer also informed about the export performance of the mining sector and stated that Turkey’s mining exports in January-October of 2017 were about 3.9 billion dollars and that mining exports increased by 27.3 percent compared to the same period of 2016. Dinçer said that natural stone exports reached 1.7 billion dollars with a 13 percent increase in 2017.
“We have to extract the mines”
Dinçer informed about the Antalya Mining Workshop, and said: “Mining sector has problems to be solved. Our goal for 2023 is 15 billion dollars. The problems related to the licenses and permits must be resolves in order to reach this aim. In order to be able to receive the new products and make R&D Works, we will demand from the state to act proactively and do what is needed to be done for faster procedures. We have selected the topic of Mining Workshop as ‘Our Life is Mine’. We have mine products in our TV’s and in our phones. Even the toothpastes and breads we eat are related to mining sector. Mining affects our lives. We have to explain this to the people who oppose to mining. We should say that opposing to mining is pointless in this age of technology development. We have to extract the mines. And we will.” He concluded that Turkey’s future laid in mining sector.”