A Strategic Base in the Global Supply Chain: Türkiye Cover Image

A Strategic Base in the Global Supply Chain: Türkiye
A Strategic Base in the Global Supply Chain: Türkiye

Author(s): Kenan Aydın
Subject(s): Geopolitics
Published by: Centrum Europejskie Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: Silk Road; One Belt One Road Project; Logistics; Logistics Centres; Logistics Base; Türkiye; Turkey;

Summary/Abstract: Türkiye is becoming a new base in the global supply chain due to itsgeopolitical position and the cost advantages it provides. Due to theCOVID-19 outbreak, logistics problems, especially production and transportation costs, have further strengthened Türkiye’s position in this context. Türkiye’s strategic location, strong logistics infrastructure, costeffective and qualified workforce, along with a liberal investment climate, offer a suitable environment for international companies. Türkiye ranks wellin the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index, which evaluates countries’ logistics performance in customs, transportation, and infrastructure. Türkiye has served as a bridge between the east and west since historical times. During the Seljuk period, caravanserais and other infrastructure and service areas were established in Anatolia to support commercial activities. The Silk Road, which had an important place until a certainperiod of the Ottoman Empire, lost its importance due to other developments. The “One Belt One Road Project” initiated by China, still in progress and planned to be completed in 2049, will make Türkiye even more importantin terms of the global supply chain in the next 10 years. İpekyolu follows the northern and southern routes in Anatolia. With China’s “One Belt One Road Project”, the Silk Road will regain its former importance as the “Modern Silk Road”.Chinese President Xi Jinping first mentioned the Land and Sea Silk Road project in one of his speeches in 2013. It has been decided to name these two projects as the “Belt and Road Initiative-BRI” or the “One Belt One Road-OBOR” project. The word belt constitutes the land route of the project, which includes highways, railways, oil and natural gas pipelines, and infrastructure investments. The word road includes the sea routes covered by the project. The routes of these corridors are provided by multi dimensional corridors in the direction of Asia-Europe instead of a single route. Within the scope of this project, many infrastructure investments are made in Türkiye as well. In this study, the cost advantages that Türkiye will provide to the global supply chain will be evaluated due to both itscost and geographical location and the infrastructure investments made.

  • Issue Year: 26/2022
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 117-141
  • Page Count: 25
  • Language: English
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