Industry events
World Flourmilling Technologies Conference and Exhibition
T
he Turkey Flourmilling and Industry Machinery Manufacturers Association’s (DESMÜD) organised a successful conference and expo, the very first of its kind. The event took place on November 22-25th, 2018, in Antalya Xanadu Hotel under the name ‘World Flourmilling Technology Conference and Exhibition’, with six major sponsorships, 25 stands and 210 exhibitors. At the end of 2017, the Turkish milling industry reached an increase of 34 percent in revenue, with over US $1 billion in revenue from exports. Important industry figures contributed to this success, and came together at the conference to discuss the Turkish flour sector and its recent technological innovations. There were also avid discussions about how Turkey can both maintain and improve their impressive position in the international market. The economic situation and current developments within Turkey, along with their future goals by 2023, have been determined as reaching the export revenue target of US $7 billion. For this purpose, DESMÜD is working to ensure that the cooperation and interoperability between the public and private sector institutions will develop to reach the required infrastructure and continue the right policies for the Turkish flourmilling machinery manufacturing industry. To ensure Turkey’s continuity as a major flourmilling international competitor, they also aim to increase their competitiveness. Under the sponsorship of Yenkar, Obial,
120 | January 2019 - Milling and Grain
Turkey Yasinoğulları Motor, Altınbilek, My Silo and AMD Rolls, the first day of the confernce featured various social events for networking opportunities, as well as opening cocktail and dance performances.
Speeches and discussions
Conference opening speeches were held on the second day of the event. The speeches were made by Mr Zeki Demirtaşoğlu, Chairman of DESMÜD, Mr Sefa Yeğin, Representative of Yenkar Rolls, (who were also the main sponsors of the event), Mr Günhan Ulusoy, Chairman of the Turkey Flour Industrialists Federation (TUSAF), Mr Ülkü Karakuş, Chairman of the Turkey Feed Manufacturers Association (Türkiyem-bir), Mr Nihat Uysallı, Board Member of Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) and Mr Hasan Ali Çelik, Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology, in his 66th term. Mr Zeki Demirtaşoğlu gave some very insightful figures, during his speech: • As of the end of 2016, Turkey’ s share in world machinery exports was 0.7 percent • The sector in which Turkey give the most foreign trade deficit, after the energy sector, is the machinery sector. At the end of 2016, US $10 billion of product was exported and $20 billion were imported • As of the end of 2017, exports increased to US $14.6 billion in Turkey and, by the end of 2018, it was expected to increase by 16 percent to $17 billion. • According to the Turkey Statistical Institute (TUIK), in 2017, Germany was in the first place position for machinery