Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan attended the XII. Logistics and Trade Meeting organized by the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences of Maltepe University.
Speaking at the opening of the meeting attended by important figures in the logistics and trade sector, Sayan made significant statements about the present and future of Turkey's logistics, e-commerce, and postal sectors.
Beginning his remarks by commemorating all citizens who lost their lives and were affected by the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, Sayan stated, “I wish Allah’s mercy to our citizens who lost their lives in the earthquake, and condolences to their families and our nation.” Noting that the earthquakes plunged all of Turkey into deep sorrow, Sayan said, “From the first moment the earthquake occurred, intensive efforts have been and continue to be carried out in the postal and communications sector by our Ministry and BTK authorities, as well as operators and postal service providers. As a country, we are striving to heal our wounds in every field.”
Investments in the logistics sector will continue without slowing down
Stating that Turkey's logistics sector is developing rapidly, Sayan said, “Developments such as the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence applications bring significant improvements in speed and quality to the logistics and cargo sector. There are more than 1,500 logistics and transportation businesses in Turkey.”
Emphasizing that investments matching the potential in the logistics sector will continue uninterruptedly, Deputy Minister Sayan said; “It is clear that we cannot ignore such potential in the Century of Turkey. As our President also stated, rather than being in the position of fueling the digital asset depot, we want to be the country that drives this vehicle itself. Instead of trying to participate in virtual universes opened by others, we are pursuing the establishment of our own universe. Our goal is to reach the position of designer, producer, leader, and followed rather than consumer in this field as well.”
Noting that information and communication technologies have reached a dizzying speed today, Sayan expressed that this situation has major impacts on business life and the trade sector. Stating that the widespread use of the internet and developments in mobile technologies directly affect the e-commerce sector, Sayan emphasized the need for accessible and reliable internet infrastructure for the growth of e-commerce volume. Touching upon the ongoing efforts in this regard, Deputy Minister Sayan said, “In the strategies and action plans we have prepared with our Ministry, the Information Technologies and Communication Authority, and all stakeholders, we particularly emphasize the further development of our internet infrastructure. We aim to exceed 570,000 km in our fiber optic infrastructure length, which currently exceeds 517,000 km, by the end of this year.”
The pandemic process became a turning point for the e-commerce sector
Referring to how the pandemic process starting from 2020 accelerated the digitalization process, Sayan noted that this was a turning point for the e-commerce sector and that its effect continues in subsequent years. Sayan stated, “In the first six months of 2022, the e-commerce volume in our country reached a total of 348 billion TL, with 2.3 billion e-commerce orders passed in the same period. In this period, the ratio of e-commerce to total trade was realized at 18.5%.” With these words, he indicated that the increase in e-commerce also brought dynamism to the cargo, transportation, and logistics sectors.
The postal sector is increasing its strength day by day
Stating that the postal sector meets a significant need in our country, Sayan said, “Currently, there are 40 postal service providers authorized by the BTK, both national and local. In recent years, the postal sector, which has entered a rapid upward trend, is increasing its strength day by day.”
Noting that investments in the postal sector are also increasing, Deputy Minister Sayan said, “Investments in the postal sector in the first six months of 2022 exceeded 930 million TL. As of the same period, our postal service providers operate more than 8,800 branches and agencies across the country.”
Expressing that thanks to the widespread service points and extensive distribution network in our country, 61% of cargo shipments reach their owners within two days following the day they are accepted, Sayan concluded his speech by saying, “When this figure is evaluated together with the figures in the US and the European Union, where it extends up to four days but the service area is physically larger, we see that we have reached a speed on a per square kilometer basis that matches these regions.”