Turkish Investor Companies in China Hopeful for Future

Demirdokum assistant general director Emre Kavukcu pointed out that their investment in China had the specified goal of becoming familiar with the country. He also said that Koc Group are aiming to increase its foreign trade volume with China to $150 million within the next 3-4 years. Kavukcu noted that the production of oil- filled radiators and fanned heaters began last year in China’s Dongguan region has allowed them to gain experience in the Chinese market. Kavukcu revealed that they have reached a sales figure of $4 million a year and said: "It was not Demirdokum’s but Koc Group’s strategic decision. The investment was done in order to understand Chineseculture. It is predicted that Koc Group’s trade with China will exceed $150 million within 3 or 4 years. One needs to be patient with the Chinesemarket at the beginning. We have made our advertisement (We have introduced ourselves by attending fairs there.) We are no longer one of the cheap brand names of china. We have come to a standard to able to sell 60.000 square meter panel radiators."

Sisecam Export Manager Rıdvan Reman pointed out that business has focused mainly on the export of chrome chemicals and that they have established Sisecam Shanghai Trading Company in China’s Shanghai Free Trade Zone.

Reman said that export to this country has increased since the company was built in 2003 and they have taken a permanent place in the market. He noted that the value of the export of chrome chemicals which was $2 million 650.000 in 2000, rose to $9 million 200.000 in 2004.

Reman remarked that China comprises 20 percent of the companies $40 million chrome chemicals export, and gave the export tonnage figures as 17.200, up from which was 3.800 in 2000.