Mersin Chamber's Çakır: New Supply Chain Centre Should Be Mersin, Backed by East Mediterranean Strategic Position
The Mersin Chamber's (MTSO) March Council Meeting was held under Council Chairman Hamit İzol. Attending the session, Çukurova Development Agency Mersin Coordinator Levent Selekoğlu presented support measures for Mersin under the Ministry of Industry and Technology's new investment incentive system and local development push.
Selekoğlu said that value-added production from pulses, technological agricultural machinery, modern smart greenhouse systems, the defense industry, metal structural parts and mechanical sub-systems, plus value-added products from agricultural waste, are among Mersin's priority investment areas. Companies investing in these areas will benefit from tax, employment and credit-interest support.
MTSO Chair Hakan Sefa Çakır said that global conflicts have economic and humanitarian — not only military — consequences, noting serious disruptions in energy, water and food. Çakır highlighted that Europe faces a serious energy test, recalled that Türkiye exports the bulk of its goods to Europe, and warned a potential European downturn could pressure Turkish foreign trade.
Saying that supply chain disruptions create new trade routes, Çakır argued Mersin has become a strategic centre in the East Mediterranean, with port infrastructure, logistics capacity and regional connectivity making it a candidate for new trade corridors. He noted growing exports to Gulf countries and that alternative routes are starting to form through Mersin. Underlining the need to strengthen logistics infrastructure, Çakır said the chamber plans a workshop on value-added warehousing, cash flow and inventory management.
Key Takeaways:
1. MTSO Chair Çakır: the new supply chain centre should be Mersin.
2. Mersin's strategic location, port and logistics capacity fit emerging trade corridors.
3. Çukurova Development Agency: pulses, smart greenhouses, defense, metal parts are priority sectors.
4. Exports to the Gulf are growing; alternative routes are forming via Mersin.
5. MTSO plans a workshop on value-added warehousing and cash flow management.
