In the online seminar titled "Future Expectations in Freight Markets and Logistics" held by the DEİK Logistics Business Council on May 27, 2021, the reasons for the increase in freight due to disruptions in the logistics chain, the container problem and the increase in logistics costs were discussed. It was held under the moderation of DEİK Logistics Business Council President Turgut Erkeskin, with the participation of Turkish diplomatic and commercial representatives, local institutions and organizations and Turkish investors.

The unexpected increase in world demand after the pandemic, the prolongation of the waiting times of the ships at the ports due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the inability of the containers to enter the game for an exceptionally long time, the rise in oil prices increased the freight prices both in Turkey and all over the world. It was mentioned that since the contracts that shipowners must make in order to charter ships are very long, container prices will continue to be high until at least 2022.

Africa and Middle East, Europe and America, Asia Pacific and Eurasia International Logistics Centers Consultation Meetings were held on February 16 and February 19, 2021 in three separate sessions. In the meetings, alternative locations for YDLM were consulted within the scope of the project proposal requested by the Ministry of Commerce. Accessibility, manageability, and predictability were taken into consideration in the location decision.

In the online event titled "The Effect of Eastern Mediterranean Geopolitics on Logistic Corridors" held on 23 December 2020 with the contributions of Mr. Hakan Eraydın and Prof Dr. Soner Esmer, it was evaluated that we can gain advantage in service exports and that the Belt and Road Initiative should be considered as an export gateway. In this context, the importance of the establishment of Belt and Road Councils was emphasized. In addition to these, Belt and Road integration, increasing the Eastern Mediterranean-Middle East transit transportation, transit time improvements, and the benefits of bilateral agreements for our country were discussed.

In the event called "Caucasus Geopolitics and the Effect of Nakhchivan Corridor on Logistics Lines" held on February 17, 2020, China's Belt and Road Initiative, the Geopolitical Impact of the Karabakh Victory and the Logistics and Trade-Related Article of the ceasefire, Nakhchivan Corridor, Transcaucasian Railways, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway Line, BTK and Iron Silk Road Routes and strategic proposals were discussed.

Logistics Business Council Chairman Turgut Erkeskin and UTİKAD President Emre Eldener participated in HT Bloomberg Hande Berktan's "30 Minutes" program as a live broadcast on April 21, 2020. During the epidemic, international transportation and logistics services were evaluated and the latest developments were shared with the public.

Latest Developments in Logistics During Covid-19 Webinar, April 8, 2020

Moderator: Turgut Erkeskin (Logistics Business Council Chairman)

Speakers: Çetin Nuhoğlu (UND President & DEİK Executive Board Member), Emre Eldener (UTİKAD President)

Webinar report:  link

On April 8, 2020, the webinar "International Transport and Logistics Services in the Covid-19 Pandemic" was hosted by our DEİK Logistics Business Council. The event was held under the moderation of our Logistics Business Council President, Mr. Turgut Erkes, and our DEİK Chairman Mr. Nail Olpak, UND Chairman and DEİK Member of the Management and Executive Board Mr. Çetin Nuhoğlu and UTIKAD President Mr. Emre Eldener attended as speakers.

"Positioning Turkey on the Belt and Road Initiative" report jointly prepared by DEIK Logistics and Turkey-China Business Councils were presented to DEIK community on November 19, 2019 at Istanbul, River Plaza.

In his opening speech, Turkey-China Business Council Chairman Murat Kolbaşı stated that he sees the Belt Road Initiative not only as an infrastructure project within the scope of interconnected airlines, railways and port constructions, but also as a strategy document that will contribute to the development and economic growth of the countries in the region. Turkey's Marmaray Rail Tube Tunnel of Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, North Marmara Motorway, Eurasia Tunnel, Osmangazi Bridge, high-speed train lines, Gebze Orhangazi-Izmir Motorway, 1915 Bridge, generation of mega transport projects such as the new Istanbul airport foster the ties with  BRI's middle the corridor and increased the importance Turkey.

Logistics Business Council Chairman Turgut Erkeskin stated that they have been following this project closely from the beginning as the logistics sector. This project is not just an infrastructure and logistics projects, indicating that many sectors and cover a wide geography. As business community a cautious approach would be helpful for the integration progress of Turkey to BRI. We will have also disadvantageous sectors too. But the whole picture is too large to ignore. We need to adapt ourselves for this new era.

The meeting ended after the question and answer session with the project presentation.

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"Positioning Turkey on the Belt and Road Initiative" report jointly prepared by DEIK Logistics and Turkey-China Business Councils was announced with a press conference on October 17, 2019 in Istanbul. The report assesses the potential trading strategies relating to Turkey's position on China's Belt and Road Initiative. In that framework, policy scenarios, trade, investment and logistic opportunities were discussed during the event.

Deputy Minister of Trade of Turkish Republic Mr Rıza Tuna Turagay, DEIK President Nail Olpak, Turkey-China Business Council Chairman Murat Kolbasi, DEIK Logistics Business Council Chairman Turgut Erkeskin and PwC Turkey Chairman Haluk Yalçın attended press conference with the participation of all stakeholders of the project.

Turagay: "Turkey should definitely be in the Belt and Road Initiative"

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Trade Mr Turagay said, Positioning Turkey on the Belt and Road Initiative is a very important step. Stating that the world's trade volume is $ 19.7 trillion, China's total exports are $ 2.5 trillion and its imports are $ 2.1 trillion. China is the world's largest exporter country and the second largest importer in the world after the US in imports. When we look at the growth rates of China, we have seen a slowdown in China for the last 2 years. It is stated that the IMF figures will decrease to 6.1 percent in 2019 and 5.8 percent in 2020. Growth in world trade We see that the rate of development of the rates decreased. "

Mentioning that Made in Chine 2025" project, Mr Turagay said that the reason behind the trade war between the USA and China is the technology and the USA is a country with a trade deficit of about 400 billion dollars. China become more integrated with the world with BRI and noted that for this purpose, Turkey has to take action in BRI.

Stating that the Turkish Business World has a great mission to explain the Peace Spring Operation in the most accurate way in the global arena, DEİK President Nail Olpak said, "While we have a very intense agenda as our country and Turkish business world, on the other hand, we have another political and military arena in line with our national interests. As the business world, we stand against black propaganda with all our connections in different geographies, using all communication channels, to prevent disinfections in the world, for this reason; once again, we are with the Peace Spring Operation. In global trade we are at the beginning stage of a new era as Turkey thanks to the changing dynamics. These changes are important agenda item for Turkey in the light Belt and Road Initiative access. The geopolitical location of our country and the importance it carries in terms of logistics and trade pushed us to prepare such a report. Because one of the missions we undertake as DEIK will shed light on the future of the Turkish business world in the context of economy and trade; To undertake works that both inform and direct the business world. In this report, we examine Belt and Road Project's influence on Turkey's foreign trade and investment attraction performance with 8 different scenarios.

The Transport Logistic fair, which is considered as the biggest logistics event in the world and held every two years in Munich, was held in Munich on 4-7 June 2019 this year. The Turkish Pavilion was opened for the first time in the organization of DEİK Logistics Business Council with the support of UND and UTİKAD in the fair, attended by 2,374 companies from 63 countries and hosted over 64,000 visitors from 125 countries. Turkey has provided 17 countries with the participation of companies outside the country pavilions.

Trade in Turkey in the Turkish delicacies are served by reception was hosted guests from different countries. In addition, business meetings were held between Italian Port Managers who visited the Turkish pavilion and Turkish logistics companies.

In the cocktail held on the second day of the fair within the scope of the pavilion events, companies had the opportunity to develop new business relations while hosting their business partners.

The owner of Messe München Trade Fair Director Robert Schönberger with regard to Turkey Pavilions, "located at the meeting point of continents, Turkey is a unique country in terms of global logistics opening. First time opening a Turkey Pavilion exhibitors an excellent development and increase the number of Turkish firms. I have no doubt that the exhibitors and visitors of the fair are also pleased to come together with Turkish companies in order to develop more cooperation. "

Logistics Business Council Chairman Turgut Erkeskin said "Turkey has become one of the global players of the logistics industry, the world's largest industry event, the open pavilion in this exhibition for the first time stressed that the country is extremely important. Our primary aim in this exhibition which we can find all segments of the industry together, was to promote Turkey's logistics industry with strategic importance on the global trade routes of the world. We achieved a success beyond our expectations with the guests we hosted and the connections we established at the fair. Our target is to participate in Transport Munich, which will take place in Shanghai next year, with national participation. "

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The 4th Economy and Logistics Summit, organized by UTA Logistics Magazine to address future perspectives in the economy and developments in the logistics sector in parallel with the developments in the world, hosted important names this year with the theme of "Competitive Economy Strong Logistics". Among the speakers of the panel titled "Reflections of Changes in Economy and Technology on Transport Modes and Future Perspectives in Logistics" at the 4th Economy and Logistics Summit that brought together, TÜRKLİM Chairman M. Hakan Genç, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, General Directorate of Maritime Trade, Bulent Sonmez, İbrahim Kemal Barış Dillioğlu, Member of the Board of İMEAK Chamber of Shipping, and Turgut Erkeskin, Chairman of the DEİK Logistics Business Council. At the Economy and Logistics Summit, the economic and political developments affecting the Turkish logistics industry and the new business models created by the digital economy and Industry 4.0 were evaluated by the sector representatives.

Information was provided regarding the Free Trade Agreement signed between Georgia and the People's Republic of China, and the opportunities and sectoral details that the said agreement could offer to Turkish companies in exporting to China through Georgia were evaluated.

Minister Arveladze made a presentation on the "Georgia-China Free Trade Agreement" which came into force on January 1, 2018 to the members of Turkey-China, Turkey-Georgia and Logistics Business Council members.

Logistics Business Council is the supporting institution of the summit, organized by UTA Logistics Magazine for the third time with the participation of relevant ministries and sectoral unions and associations.

The Economy and Logistics Summit, which has brought together the economy world, the public and logistics sector for 2 years, bringing together the real sectors and the logistics sector, in its 3rd Year; He discussed the new opportunities of digital economy and industry 4.0, how firms are positioned in this process, their effects on business models, logistics processes and the integration of the logistics industry into these processes.

Koc University Maritime Forum (KÜDENFOR) organized the International Turkey & Marine Silk Road Workshop in collaboration with Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) Logistics Business Council, Huaqiao University (China),   Koç University's Asian Studies Research and Application Center (KUASIA) at Istanbul Rahmi Koc Museum.

Senior representatives of think tanks, public & private sector, academia, and civil society organizations attended to the Workshop. Turkey's coastal seas where the workshop, ports, shipping companies and investment capacity has underlined the role of the Maritime Silk Road.

Academic experts from the People's Republic of China, India and the Philippines and Turkish academics, intellectuals and businessmen evaluated the comprehensive analysis of Maritime Silk Road-MSR and the effects of the initiative on Turkish-Chinese relations in all aspects.

Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Dr Ozkan Poyraz, Huaqiao University Rector and the Marine Silk Road Institute Director Professor Jia Yimin, DEIK Board Member and Turkey-China Business Council Chairman Murat Kolbasi, DEIK Logistics Business Council Vice-Chairman and Arkas Holding Port Services Group President Hakan Genc, , China Istanbul Trade Attaché Hang Songfeng, TURMEPA President Şadan Kaptanoğlu, KÜDENFOR Advisory Board Member Dr. Cem Kozlu, KÜDENFOR Board Member Admiral (E) Kadir Sağdıç, Deputy Director of China Maritime Silk Road Institute Professor Xu Peiyuan, Director of Koç University Asian Studies Center (KUASIA) Dr. Şebnem Köşer Akçapar, Professor Sedat Aybar, Director of the Chinese Research Center of Istanbul Aydın University, Professor Anoop Singh from the Gateway Thinking Center of India, Dr. Richard Javad Heydarian of La Salle University, Philippines. With, General Secretariat of the National Security Council, Ministry of Transport, Maritime Communication, Naval Forces Command, Coast Guard Command, Strategic Think Tanks, TÜSİAD, DEİK, UTİKAD, Maritime Chamber of Commerce members participated to the event.

In his opening speech, Deputy Undersecretary Ozkan Poyraz said that Turkey's ready to take his place in Marine Silk Road with Filyos, Mersin and Çandarlı ports. Ozkan Poyraz stated that, in the upcoming official visit of President Erdogan to China, it's expected to sign agreement for the framework of Edirne-Kars railway route.

Turkey-China Business Council Chairman Murat Kolbaşı said that the trade volume between Turkey and the Asia-Pacific region reached 50 billion US dollars and official visits of President Erdogan to India and China will reflect positively on bilateral relations.

DEIK Logistics Business council Vice Chairman Mr Hakan Genc announced the upcoming project of the Council on the Turkey's position at the Belt ad Road Initiative. The Project will assess the business opportunities will be created for Turkish companies. He added that this study, like other impact analysis and strategy studies conducted by DEİK would be an important guide for both public and private sectors.

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