Fırat Başbilen, Partner of Başbilen International Transportation Company, Even The Biggest Companies of Europe Manufacture In Turkey Today

“EVEN IN TIMES OF CRISIS, WE DID NOT WORK BELOW OUR CAPACITY”

 “ANKARA LOGISTICS BASE IS THE LARGEST INVESTMENT OF A PRIVATE ENTERPRISE ON LOGISTICS COMPANIES”

Stating that they are also one of the founding partners and Members of the Board of Directors of Ankara Logistics Base, Başbilen draws attention to the fact that exports will increase further once the problems in the logistics sector are resolved.

Mentioning that they worked in Europe and Central Asian countries, Başbilen states that they worked intensively on Central Asian countries in the early 1990s, but in time, they turned to Europe after 2000 as a result of the problems encountered in Central Asian countries. Başbilen: “Currently, we are working with European countries at a rate of 70 percent, but we cannot leave Asia either because of our old connections. Since we are an Ankara company, we serve many construction companies and machinery manufacturers here. We are experiencing many problems ourselves. We have approximately 45 tarpaulin vehicles and around 55 colleagues we work with. Along with all this, we are a company located in Ankara Logistics Base. We are also one of the partners and founders of the logistics base. My father, Sami Başbilen, is also an old man in the industry and a Member of the Board of Logistics Base.”

“Ankara Logistics Base is the Largest Investment of a Private Enterprise on Logistics Firms”

Stating that international transport or domestic companies can provide every service at Ankara Logistics Base, such as vehicle service maintenance, hotels, restaurants, mosques, markets, parking areas, customs, insurance companies and banks, Başbilen said: were the representatives of the countries who received information. The closest place to Ankara Logistics Base is in Austria, and it is not as well equipped. Our location is the biggest investment of private enterprise on logistics companies. We are in Europe's largest and Turkey's only logistics base. Here, the efforts of our Board of Directors, which includes our Honorable Chairman of the Board Erhan Gündüz, our Honorable Deputy Chairman Hakan Bezginli and my father Sami Başbilen, are really great and important. Mr. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan promised us at the opening of our base that they would increase the number of logistics bases Turkey needs in 16 major cities and especially close to the exit gates. We have expectations from our President that these bases will be increased with encouragement and support.”

“We Didn't Let Anyone Down, Including Times of Crisis”

Transferring details about Başbilen International Transportation, Başbilen talks about the fact that there are mainly Mercedes and Scania brands in their vehicle fleets and added: “The biggest reason we prefer these brands is their low breakdown. Having a strong second hand and being suitable brands for the comfort of the drivers. We have a portfolio of approximately 106 customers. But their flagships are Tofaş and Petlas, which we work with in certain lines. We also thank our other customers, they are also satisfied with the services we have provided for a long time. We have been traveling together with our friends working in our company for 25-26 years. We have not let anyone down, even in times of crisis.”

“We Didn't Work Below Our Capacity Even In Times Of Crisis”

Stating that they check the visa and transit document status of the vehicles every day in the morning and decide whether to operate the vehicle accordingly, Başbilen said: "As a principle, we tell the companies we work with on which lines we will be more beneficial. Because the deficiency you give to a company takes away all your pluses. "We exist in certain lines. We do not engage in services that we cannot provide, whether self-owned or rented, or jobs that we cannot do properly. We are a bit picky, we see that we have been selected. We have never worked below our capacity, even in times of crisis."

“Ankara is Developing Permanently and Fundamentally”

Stating that Ankara has developed permanently and radically, Başbilen states that businesses in Istanbul can export intensively, while Ankara continues to grow more permanently and proportionally. Başbilen: “There used to be 63 companies engaged in international shipping business in Ankara, now there are around 40. It is not growing very much, but at least at a rate equivalent to Ankara's export potential.”

“Export Never Stops”

Stating that serious developments have been made on the Kapıkule issue and that the Ministry's interest and attention of UND President Çetin Nuhoğlu has made progress, Başbilen stated that he was stuck in one place and said: "Bulgaria used to run one bank until 2021, now it has increased to two. There have been many suggestions for officer shifts, doors and so on, but it is getting blocked somewhere. This blockage is not from the Turkish side. If Turkey wishes, it can make bigger places to go there in 12 hours or 24 hours. Turkey has the power to do this, an example of which is the Georgian side's system being built by TOBB and UND. In the past, foreign vehicle entry was considered very nationalistic in Turkey. Currently, the rate of foreigners has increased from 64 percent to 70 percent. In other words, seven out of 10 exports are made by foreign vehicles, we cannot keep up with the transportation of three. The cake has grown so much that we have new investments. We expect the delivery of our five Mercedes vehicles in two weeks, although they are still not enough. Because exports never stop. Today, even the biggest companies in Europe are producing in Turkey. It seems that the problem will not end in Kapikule. It will take a minimum of six years for a new door to open. That is why the important thing is to increase the capacity, I am sure that these waiting times will decrease as Bulgaria starts working there at full capacity.”

“As Transporters, We Are Very Suffering From Asia's Dozvola and Transit Passage”

Pointing out that vehicles with foreign license plates are treated differently than vehicles with Turkish license plates, and this situation affects competition, Başbilen says, "Kazakhstan says, 'You will come to Uzbekistan by ship to pass'. What does this mean? For example, can I say to the Russian transporter, 'You will only come from Kapıkule'! The cake is very big in Turkey and all over the world. But everyone is wrong when they say that they will protect their own shipper, importer and exporter. To go to Uzbekistan, I have to pass through the Caspian. Does Kazakhstan have a gain on the Caspian ship? No! One port occupation costs $70. We said, 'Let's give 100 dollars per dose.' They said to him, 'No'. Most recently, our President stated that no one should hinder the transit. Turkmenistan does not even take its own citizens because I will get rid of the corona. As shippers, we are very distressed by Asia's Dozvola and its transit.”

“I believe that if our problems are solved, our exports will increase even more”

Stating that they are waiting for a visa for almost 60 days, Başbilen also mentioned the visa problem and said: “I can work with my driver for 10 months. In the past, our visas were given to us within a week and ten days, and our visas were given for six months or years. Now the annual visas are so few; It keeps a minimum of 60 days in the countries that issue it. When we look at it, foreign vehicles and Turkish vehicles are not the same. The investment of the Turkish vehicle is 150 thousand euros. Today, you can prepare a 1-2 year old vehicle in Ukraine, Slovakia and the Czech Republic with 40 thousand euros. So our cost is four times more. We deal with these costs, not only with visas, but also with penalties. Exports are increasing, and it is said to increase until 2026. If our problems are solved, I believe that our exports will increase even more.”