Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Turkey Cement and Cement Products Council President Tamer Saka said in his opening remarks that cement exports increased by 38.4% to 21.4 million tons in the first eight months of 2020, while eight-month export revenue increased by 24.8% to 748.7 million tons. Cement sector as of June of this year returned to normal, as a result of the movement in the construction sector, sales revived; noting that the figures indicated after the decline, initial sales figures are promising. On the other hand, if the negative effect of pandemic is felt again, reassessment of economic measures including the cement, ready-mixed concrete, prefabricated structure and building chemicals and other sub-sectors is of serious importance for the country's economy.

As the negative effects of the epidemic began to be felt in our country, Saka pointed out that the sector experienced contractions in production capacities as a result of deterioration in the domestic supply chain and decreases in the amount of demand and decreases in export revenue due to foreign order cancellations, and stated that they performed well despite all this negativity as a sector. Stating that the sector is the largest cement sector in Europe and the 6^th largest in the world and second in cement exports, Saka stated that they can become the world's largest exporter with exports this year.

He stressed that the sector is one of the sectors that performs well in employee health, which is the biggest risk during the pandemic period, and that employees continue to work and continue to work without compromising measures on occupational health and safety.

TOBB Deputy Secretary General Cengiz DelibaÅŸ said that they are closely monitoring the situation of the sectors in the Covid-19 process, that they have been in contact with the Public Administration on all issues and informed the Council Members about the recent negotiations at the Ministerial level within the TOBB.

Another issue discussed by the Councilors at the meeting was the New Green Deal. The New Green Deal - Green Memorandum of Understanding on Sustainability, which is intended to prepare all sectors in Europe for 2050, has come into force, becoming a common goal of the EU and its impact on Turkey is inevitable, the Councilors noted the importance of actively starting the necessary work on this issue and taking the right position on the issue.