Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

At the opening of the modernized Pazarkule Customs Gate, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the basic rule of the economy is that if there is trade, there is money, if there is money, there is wealth, if there is wealth, there is peace, and that as TOBB, they act with this vision.

Stating that they modernized the customs gates with the Build-Operate-Transfer model by realizing a first in the world with the positive approach of the AK Party government, Hisarcıklıoğlu underlined that they did not impose any cost on the state while making the renovations.

Stating that they have completely renovated 12 customs gates using the most advanced technology to date, Hisarcıklıoğlu said: “At the gates we have modernized, waiting times have halved and the volume of crossing has increased exponentially. For all this, as the Chamber and Commodity Exchange community, we have invested 650 million dollars. In other words, we saved the state from spending so much money, and our state earned 340 million dollars more in tax revenue from the income obtained from these gates. As the Chamber-Exchange community, we have brought 1 billion dollars to the coffers of our state. Not only the state, but also our private sector and our members benefited from this.

Eighty-five percent of Türkiye's overland exports pass through modernized gates. Thanks to the new gates, the waiting times of trucks carrying goods have shortened. Our private sector saved on freight costs. We have also raised the prestige of our country with our modern, safe and comfortable facilities, which are the first visible face of Türkiye. This project, which we have realized with the partnership of the public and private sectors, has also received great acclaim in the world. For the first time, a project of Türkiye was selected and cited as the best example worldwide by the United Nations. They told the whole world that if you want to make your border crossings faster and safer, do it like Türkiye did. We have reached the point of exporting our experience and knowledge to the world. We have started a new initiative together with the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry. We aimed to modernize the land customs gates in 57 Islamic countries that are members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. With this joint venture, which will soon become operational, we will make our name known in global markets.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu underlined that with the modernized Pazarkule Customs gate, trade and tourism will gain momentum and the burden of Kapıkule will decrease.

- Trade Minister Bolat

Trade Minister Ömer Bolat said that as the Ministry, within the framework of Türkiye's 2023 targets and the vision of the “Turkish Century”, they determine trade policies, follow global developments, and work to regulate domestic trade and increase exports.

Bolat reminded that Türkiye is located on land, air, sea and rail trade corridors connecting continents on the east-west trade axis, and pointed out that Türkiye's ability to benefit from this advantageous position depends on increasing the capacity of ports and transportation infrastructures and facilitating customs procedures and transit.

Bolat pointed out that 59 percent of Türkiye's exports last year were made by sea, 31 percent by land and 8 percent by air.

Bolat stated that while the total number of commercial vehicles entering and exiting at Kapıkule, Hamzabeyli and İpsala customs gates in 2021 was 1.485 million, this number reached 1.638 million last year.

Stating that the fast and safe management of high-volume traffic and the prevention of congestion at customs gates necessitated the implementation of a new understanding at customs gates, Bolat underlined that in this direction, in order to provide faster and safer customs services, taking into account the changing commercial conditions, investments for the renewal of customs gates continue with the Build-Operate-Transfer Model as well as budgetary means.

- GTI projects

Arif Parmaksız, President of TOBB Customs and Tourism Enterprises Co Inc, stated that the modernization of Pazarkule Customs gate was carried out with a budget of 100 million liras.

Stating that the modernization of Ardahan Türközü Customs gate has been completed and will be opened in a short time, Parmaksız said that the modernization of Gürbulak Customs gate will be completed in 2024.

Parmaksız added that the project work on the relocation of İstanbul Erenköy Customs Directorate to Tuzla district has also started.

- About modernization

The modernization works at the border crossing in Karaağaç neighborhood of the central province of Edirne, which started in December two years ago, were completed in May this year.

After the modernization, the number of platforms at the customs gate was increased from one entrance and one exit to 6, with 3 entrances and 3 exits. The usage area of the customs area of 4,000 square meters was expanded to 22,000 square meters.

Pazarkule, which gained a modern appearance after the renovation works, includes a search hangar, social facilities, personnel buildings, administrative units in the passenger building and shops on the ground floor.

There is also an X-Ray office, mobile X-Ray and dog training center, and a Smuggling and Intelligence Directorate building at the customs gate.