Baris SEDEF / ISTANBUL Milling Machinery, Technologies and Sub-Industry Fair (Mill Tech), which was held for the first time this year with approximately 100 participants, will host thousands of professional buyers from Europe, Africa, Turkic Republics, Middle and Far East countries. Zeki Demirtaşoğlu, Chairman of the Milling and Sector Machinery Manufacturers Association (DESMÜD), stated that Turkey ranks first in the world in the export of milling machines at the fair they organized together with CNR Holding. Demirtaşoğlu, who stated that they produce in many areas from weighing systems to discharge systems with more than 300 sector representatives, said, “Many products seen in nature are subjected to crushing processes and these processes are carried out by milling machines. In other words, all the food you eat goes through the milling machines.” used the phrases. Demirtaşoğlu, explaining that the sector made exports of 2.5 billion dollars in 2021, noted that the added value per kilogram is 14 dollars and that they aim to export approximately 3.5 billion dollars in 2023. Emphasizing that they aim to host 15 thousand local and foreign professionals at the fair, Demirtaşoğlu said, “As of the first day, our participants from 60 countries registered in approximately 3 hours. In order for us as an industry to compete with Germany, Japan and Italy, using high technology is not an option but a necessity. As an industry, we have achieved this right now. In some of our factories, 600 tons of products are processed per hour with 6 people.” said.
97 percent of production goes to export
Pointing out that the sector continues to invest and that the investment amount planned to be completed by the end of the year is approximately 250 million dollars, Demirtaşoğlu said, “We anticipate the employment of an additional 10 thousand people from now on. As a sector, our total employment is around 300 thousand.” he said. Emphasizing that the sector exports approximately 97 percent of the products manufactured, Demirtaşoğlu stated that Turkey has reached a saturation level in meeting the need for machinery in the field of mills and flour. On the other hand, Demirtaşoğlu stated that a protocol was signed with the Ministry of National Education regarding the recruitment of qualified personnel to the sector and that three vocational high schools were opened for milling technologies. Emphasizing that their main goal is to open a university in the field of milling technologies, Demirtaşoğlu stated that their work continues.
The wheat they bought for 460 dollars fell to 300 dollars
Haluk Tezcan, Chairman of the Board of the Turkish Flour Industrialists’ Federation, pointed out that it was difficult to access food globally during the pandemic period and said, “We did not leave anyone without bread and flour during this period. In this period, the contribution of the machinery sector is quite high. We have written an important success story, including in our logistics sector. We see how valuable sustainability and food safety are in agricultural production. The Russia-Ukraine War is the most obvious example of this.” said. Emphasizing that Turkey has a strategic place in opening the grain corridor in this period, Tezcan said that the wheat they bought for 460 dollars decreased to 300 dollars.
“We see that many connections have already been made”
Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank pointed out that as the Ministry, they take care to participate in sectoral fairs and said, “The Mill Tech Fair, which we opened, is of great importance in terms of showing the level reached by the industry. Over 120 brands exhibit their products at the fair, which is the world’s largest trading platform in its field.” said. Explaining that they expect more than 15 thousand industry representatives to visit the fair for 4 days in terms of the number of participants, Varank said, “We see that many connections have already been made. We aim to increase the trade volume of the sector by bringing together domestic producers and international buyers. On this occasion, I wish the Mill Tech Fair to be beneficial to everyone.” he said.