AYSEL YUCEL
The button was pressed for the modernization of the Kapıkule Border Gate. Now the ‘queue’ ordeal at the border gates, which stretches for kilometers, will end. Taking action with the support of TOBB, TIM and UND, the Ministry of Commerce accelerates the transit process of the trucks carrying the export load at the border gates. Speaking to WORLD on the subject, Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan said, “When the construction process is completed in Kapikule, our goal in 3 months is to increase this number to 2,000 at the border crossing, where an average of 900 vehicles pass daily.” A one-day wait causes a 4 percent loss in exports. On the other hand, the modernization of the Sarp Border Gate was completed. With 4 new platforms added, 2 billion TL entered the state’s coffers annually, while TOBB members saved 410 million TL from freight. Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan, Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) President İsmail Gülle, with a ceremony attended by Turkey’s most important customs gate opening to Georgia and then Central Asia and Russia. opened the Sarp Customs Gate, which was renovated with the build-operate-transfer model. Georgian Finance Minister Ivane Matchavariani and Georgian Economy and Sustainable Development Minister George Kobulia also attended the ceremony.
One-day standby cuts trading by 4 percent
Speaking at the ceremony, Pekcan emphasized the damage caused to trade by the disruptions in customs and said, “According to OECD, waiting for an extra day of cargo in imports and exports reduces trade by 4 percent. The gates of prosperity and wealth are customs gates. Trade is the key to this. It serves to facilitate, develop, modernize, digitize, transparent and activate the customs gates. As the Ministry, we prioritize the demands and needs of traders in reform efforts. We constantly consult, evaluate opinions and suggestions. We work together to remove the barriers to trade. Our customs will lose “We don’t have time. Our transactions here have to be fast, reliable, cheap and transparent.” Answering the questions of the WORLD after the opening, Pekcan emphasized that they have very important works to address the troubles experienced in Kapıkule, one of the most important border gates of Turkey, as in the Sarp Border Gate, “When the constructions are finished in about 3 months, there will be very good developments. Peron We are increasing their numbers. In addition, in line with the demands of sector representatives, we are working to solve other problems that cause waiting at the door.” Deputy Minister Rıza Tuna Turagay also underlined that he was personally interested in Kapıkule. We are aware of the importance of this border gate opening to Europe for our exports and our country’s economy. We will solve the problems experienced by our export trucks at the border gate, and we are carrying out very important studies for this. Our goal is to increase this number to 2,000 at the border crossing, where an average of 900 vehicles pass daily,” he said.
Some orders and investments escaped
Troubles at the Kapıkule Border Gate have been one of the most important agendas of industrialists and transporters for a long time. While the TIR queues, which go up to 20 km from time to time, cause the exporter’s cargo to go to the buyers in Europe with an additional 1 week delay, the waiting times cause millions of dollars in cost loss for transporters and exporters. Due to delays, industrialists lose some orders to other countries. We even know that some large factory investments have been registered in neighboring countries due to high logistics costs and long delivery times. Volvo investment lost to Serbia is just one of them.
Hisarcıklıoğlu: Profit 2.5 billion TL
At Sarp Customs Gate, which is the most important customs gate of Turkey opening to Georgia, Central Asia and Russia and renovated by TOBB/GTİ AŞ with the build-operate-transfer (YID) model, the number of platforms before the renovation was 8, 6 increased to 12 platforms as entrances and 6 exits. Speaking at the opening ceremony, President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We have saved 2 billion TL in our state’s coffers with the taxes paid from the revenues we have made so far. Not only the state but also our members have won this. Thanks to modernization, the waiting time of the trucks carrying goods has been shortened. Our industry has saved 410 million TL annually from freight costs,” he said.
Gulle: We have no minutes to lose!
Speaking to the WORLD, TİM President İsmail Gülle emphasized the importance of Kapıkule for the exporter and said, “The congestion there affects the whole body directly. Therefore, the improvements made here under the leadership of our Minister will contribute greatly to our exports. We are doing it to Europe We transport 45 billion dollars of this by road.This picture shows us that the problems in Kapıkule should be solved urgently because the time to go from China to Europe and from Turkey to Europe are almost equal, our day to lose is the day we will lose. “We don’t have hours or minutes. We have to produce well and deliver fast. While very large transportation projects are being implemented in the world, we are still talking about trucks.”
Nuhoğlu: The capacity of 50 trucks will increase to 120!
Çetin Nuhoğlu, President of the International Transporters Association (UND), said, “In Kapıkule, our most important gateway to Europe, at the end of 2018, the average export output was 900 km per day and the average TIR queue was 11 km. Only trucks that have completed their customs clearance in Istanbul The average time required for him to leave our country via Kapıkule is 39 hours in 2018. This picture is not sustainable and harms both our industry and our country’s economy.With the Kapıkule modernization project, which will enable the daily exit of 2,000 vehicles from Kapıkule and the completion of the border crossing processes without waiting, 50 trucks per hour The output capacity of 120 trucks will increase to 120 trucks and the construction process of the new project will be completed in June. The project, which will remove the bottlenecks in the customs area and speed up the fuel purchase processes, will be supported by modern customs practices. In today’s conditions, the smart border concept should be implemented, and the border customs procedures should be completed before the cargo and vehicle arrives. electronically. These customs It is possible with the synchronized work of both parties. Our government’s close cooperation with Bulgaria is a chance for us. The new vision and efforts of our Ministry of Commerce are admirable. We would like to thank our Minister of Commerce Ruhsar Pekcan, Deputy Minister Rıza Tuna Turagay, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu and TİM President Gülle for solving the problems.”
A convenience to the exporter will come with TARA
Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan gave information about the new “Customs Tariff Search Program” application called TARA and said, “Our traders will be able to see the customs duties and foreign trade measures applied in import and export by searching by word or tariff position. “People will be able to be more foresighted and avoid possible risks by knowing the transactions and costs they will face in advance,” he said.
A professional writer by day, a tech-nerd by night, with a love for all things money.