The phrase “Geography is Destiny” attributed to Ibn-i Khaldun is to explain the reason for the development level of countries and people living in these countries (unfortunately, their inability to advance and even fall behind), and to explain the sociological characteristics of people (culture, education, industriousness, productivity, respect… ) and is used to express the relationship between the geography they live in. In short, this word unfortunately creates a “negative” perception.
Turkey’s real destiny is to become a “Supply Chain Country” due to its place in the world geography instead of the usual “negative” perception.
Turkey, which has the ability and potential to produce quality goods, has the potential to contribute to the international and global Supply Chain with its logistics structure supporting its fateful geography (physical infrastructure such as ports, roads, bridges, warehouses, sufficient number of qualified human resources, legal regulations for correct and accelerated goods flow). It may be the strongest link.
As a Supply Chain country, Turkey aims to make the international and global supply chain more agile, flexible and fast; work in a less complex structure; be more lean; be more environmentally friendly; more accurate management of risks against possible dangers; more secure (flow of goods and information) and reliable, and less costly with better inventory management. Thus, Supply Chain Country Turkey can add more value to the international and global supply chain.
Due to the “goods flow” problems experienced during the pandemic, Covid-19, which obliges Turkey to be a “short, easy-to-control, plain (simple) and easy-to-trace” Supply Chain instead of a “long, difficult to control, complex and difficult to traceability” Supply Chain, Thus, Turkey, as a much more important supply country compared to pre-Covid-19, can bring opportunities for companies and investors both in Turkey and around the world.
Despite the data in the surveys conducted by PwC & AmChamChina and Gartner during the pandemic period, “many companies do not think of leaving China in the near future” and “companies considering leaving China should consider countries such as Vietnam, India and Malaysia”, all interested parties in Turkey ( Government, public, private sector, university, NGO) should explain and promote to the world that Turkey is a “Supply Chain Country”.
But it should be promoted as an all-in-one “supply chain”, not just “production” or “geographical location” or “logistics”. Because all of them together form the strongest link of the international and global supply chain. And of course, all of these exist in Turkey. The first step for this promotion is the emphasis on “supply chain” and “logistics”, especially on the home page and other pages of the “Invest in Turkey” website.
I repeat the last sentence of my article “Turkey is a Supply Chain Country” dated 27 November 2011 and I say “Turkey is a Supply Chain Country” and there is flour, oil, sugar… it remains to make Turkey a “Supply Chain Country”.
