The packaging industry, which has started serious studies for sustainability, the most important agenda issue of the future, aims to contribute to the country's economy by having more foreign trade surplus in the coming years.
The industry targets a turnover of 28 billion dollars in 2021. According to the statement made by the Packaging Manufacturers Association (ASD), the industry makes an economic movement of approximately 400 billion dollars possible with packaging in Turkey. The packaging industry, which has started serious studies for sustainability, the most important agenda issue of the future, aims to contribute to the country's economy by having more foreign trade surplus in the coming years. According to the information provided, packaging professionals met in the webinar titled "Post-Pandemic World Economy and Working Life" organized by ASD. The webinar, moderated by ASD President Zeki Sarıbekir , where 240 people were registered, was attended by Economist Prof. Dr. Emre Alkin and Psychologist Prof. Dr. Acar Baltaş as speakers and the current situation of the packaging industry, new topics on the agenda and issues related to the future of the industry were discussed. ASD President Zeki Sarıbekir stated that the turnover, which was 23 billion dollars in 2019, reached 25 billion dollars in 2020 and added: “Our target for 2021 is 28 billion dollars. We think that we will reach a size of 30 billion dollars in 2023. We make an economic movement of approximately 400 billion dollars possible with our packaging in Turkey. Our products are exported directly to 180 countries in the world. Last year, we also had foreign trade surplus of 2 billion 28 million dollars. Our 2020 exports were 5 billion 147 million dollars. In the first six months of 2021, we exported 3 billion 44 million dollars and had foreign trade surplus of 1 billion 222 million dollars. The packaging industry has a large share in the second quarter growth figure of our country's economy, which is 21.7 percent. Our export target for this year is 6 billion dollars. Per capita packaging consumption in Turkey has doubled in the last 15 years. The world average is 120 dollars, but we've reached 272. In Europe, this figure is over 400 dollars, around 500 dollars in America, and over 550 dollars in Japan. We also consider packaging consumption as a symbol of development. ” Stating that sustainability is the most significant issue of the coming period, Zeki Sarıbekir underlined that Turkey's packaging sector has a strong infrastructure and competence to compete with its competitors in the world. Sarıbekir said, “But there is a quite big competition in global markets. In order to keep up with this competition, we insist that sustainability will be the most important issue of the coming period. We need to work for a sustainable world and make sustainable packaging. Sustainable development goals, circular economy and Green Deal have become a very important issue and will always be on our agenda. As ASD, we will continue to provide various webinars and trainings on this subject. " . Noting that they will celebrate the 30th anniversary of ASD next year, Zeki Sarıbekir also stated that they will organize the 26th Eurasia Packaging Istanbul Fair on October 20-23.
Images: www.kasad.org.tr Hürriyet Big Para