Turkey's chemical sector, which rivals the automotives sector in exports, is now receiving invitations for investments from firms they sit down to the negotiation table with at international fairs. Turkey brought 27 firms to one of the world's biggest chemical sector organizations the Arab Plast Fair, and instead of receiving orders; they received a proposal to provide their innovations in collaborations to be funded by Arabs.

Eurotec Assistant General Manager Reha Gür, who attended the fair in Dubai, stated, "We received an offer to collaborate in manufacturing from a Saudi Arabian chemicals company." Gür, who is also the Vice-Chairman of PAGDER, went on to explain, "Saudi firms that want to set up facilities in their own nations, told us, 'We want to use your know-how. Come, and let's be partners. And we responded positively."

A goal to be leaders in Europe

One of the most important segments of the nation's chemicals sector, which closed out last year with 18 billion dollars in exports, is the plastics market, which on its own raked in 4.6 billion dollars in exports in 2011. According to Murat Akyüz, Executive Board Chairman of the Istanbul Chemicals and Chemical Products Exporters Association (İKMİB), "We are in third place trailing behind Germany and Italy. However, by 2016, we will surpass both Italy and Germany to take on the leadership position."

If we only had oil…

The petroleum rich Middle Eastern nations make up the fastest growing geography in the plastics sector. "Despite not having petroleum, we have a strong presence in the Middle East. Our sales in the Arab geography, which is abundant in petrol, is fast on the rise," stated Akyüz.

This is a translation of an article originally written by Kerim Ülker.