FOREIGN TRADE
LOGISTICS CONFERENCE (FTLOG)
Economic and commercial structure of the 21st century is being shaped by unprecedented changes in the transport linkages between Europe and Asia mainly due to the spectacular development of the Chinese economy and Asian economies in general. The growth of the goods’ flow between Asia and Europe created the need for identifying new transport routes and consequently Turkey has emerged as a crucial transit/hub country.
Turkey is one of the main economic actors of the Middle East and Eurasia with its foreign trade volume of over 300 billion dollars and capital inflow of 22 billion dollars per annum. Having the advantages of strategic geographic location, demographic structure and dynamic manufacturing sectors, Turkey is ready to realize its potential for being one of the pioneer logistics hubs of the Middle East and Eurasia.
The Turkish logistics sector, which is developing rapidly in line with the expansion in Turkey's foreign trade, has a business volume of $15 billion as of today. There are approximately 220 companies in the sector. With a road transport fleet having more than 40,000 vehicles and investment over $5 billion, the sector provides employment opportunities for approximately 400,000 people. The growth potential in the sector has been drawing attention of foreign logistics companies and investment funds, not only from Europe and the United States, but also from Russia and the Middle East.
Within this perspective, “FOREIGN TRADE
LOGISTICS CONFERENCE” will be held in different cities of Turkey annually. On October 14-15, 2008 Mersin, the major port city on East Mediterranean coast of Turkey, will host the First International Trade and Logistics Conference.
The Conference is being organized by the Undersecretariat of Prime Ministry for Foreign Trade with the support of relevant national and local government authorities and non-governmental organizations.
Ministers and bureaucrats of Middle Eastern and Eurasia countries in charge of transport, logistics and economic affairs, world wide known academics in logistics and supply chain management, representatives and executives of transport and logistics companies will attend to the Conference.
The Conference will become a new milestone in the Middle East and Eurasia logistics with its agenda including presentations of government executives and prominent private sector representatives.
Beside this intense agenda, the Conference Program also includes:
- On-site visits to logistics centers and industrial enterprises in Mersin (including Mersin International Seaport, Mersin Free Trade Zone and Botaş-Ceyhan Oil Terminal)
- Attractive cultural program around Mersin which is located at the crossroads of cultures and religions (St. Paul’s House, Hittite and Hellenistic Vestiges, Maiden’s Castle)
- An Exhibition running concurrently with the Conference with the participation of domestic and foreign providers of logistics services, transport and forwarding companies.
- “Ceremony of Logistics Awards” which will take place during FOREIGN TRADE
LOGISTICS CONFERENCE annually.
Türkçe