THE GREAT ÇUKUROVA ECONOMIC BASIN…

Ayhan Kızıltan, ben@ayhankiziltan.com, İMECE Newspaper, Mersin, Türkiye – May 26, 2024

We support the Mersin-Adana High-Speed Train investment; it is a strategic project that will provide an incredible contribution to our regional economy. It must be extended to Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, and even further to other Southeastern Anatolian provinces, eventually connecting to the Railway Line within the planned Development Road Project in the Middle East.

The fact that the existing Mersin-Adana Railway will be temporarily closed for two years for the construction of the High-Speed Train Line will adversely affect Mersin and regional logistics. Consequently, this will impact industrial enterprises in the provinces that utilize the Port of Mersin for their exports and imports. Since rail transport is more economical than road transport, its use among industrialists had been increasing.

Road transport will now replace the temporarily closed railway line. As a result, shifting industrialists—who have developed a habit of using railways—back to road transport may cause operational disruptions and lead to a certain increase in logistics costs. This could create a disadvantage for Turkish firms in international competition.

The Mersin International Port, which features three berths with direct railway connections, serves as the import and export gateway for the Central Anatolia, Mediterranean, Eastern, and Southeastern Anatolia regions. Simultaneously, it is a transit hub for Russia, Middle Eastern countries, and the Turkic Republics. Connected via road, air, and rail, Mersin International Port encompasses all modes of transportation. It is a vital gateway for the export of industrial, agricultural, and other products manufactured in Mersin’s hinterland, as well as the primary entry point for raw material imports for industrial facilities in this geography.

During the planning and design process of the Mersin-Adana High-Speed Train Line, was there an exchange of ideas with Mersin Port, the logistics sector, TCDD, and industrialists involved in foreign trade regarding measures to minimize logistical damage? Or is the prevailing mindset "everyone for themselves"? It seems there is no choice but to complete this investment EXTREMELY FAST, as it affects such a vast region.

It should not be overlooked that the TCDD Yenice Logistics Transfer Center will also be negatively affected by this situation. Furthermore, I believe this investment should have brought a critical issue to the agenda: once the high-speed line is completed, railway transport capacity will increase significantly. Meanwhile, the project to expand the Mersin Port Berths is also underway. When these two investments are finished, the cargo capacity and traffic of the existing port will increase tremendously.

It is evident that Mersin Port will require a much larger area. The port grounds must be expanded toward the north and east to meet increasing storage demands and to improve traffic mobility within the port. Even now, the greatest problem facing Mersin Port is the lack of sufficient space, which stands as the biggest obstacle to faster and more economical operations.

A new zoning plan for this region must be implemented urgently, designating the expansion areas to the north and east. Additionally, space must be allocated for sectors that support port activities, and the transportation network must be planned in a way that does not congest urban traffic. Otherwise, according to the current zoning plan, high-rise business centers to the north will stifle the Port and the entrance to Mersin. The zoning plan for this area must be executed immediately, focusing on the coordinated, fluid, and rapid operation of the port and logistics sectors.

Moreover, this planning should encompass the Çukurova Regional Airport, which is nearing completion. The port and the airport together have created the potential to transform Çukurova into a logistics and economic basin. I also assume the Mersin Main Container Port will be built, which will further strengthen this basin. A region with robust logistical capabilities is the most attractive destination for investors.

If we can integrate the resources and synergy of Adana and the provinces in our hinterland and plan this opportunity effectively, we can transform Çukurova into an ECONOMIC BASIN that goes far beyond the likes of Marmara or Dubai. In this basin, investments can be made in every imaginable sector—from agriculture and food to heavy industry, high-tech manufacturing, informatics, R&D, tourism, and healthcare.

As long as we demonstrate the will and create a participatory, inclusive plan. If entrepreneurial and courageous public administrators, who can see the future and seize opportunities, take the lead—supported by the private sector and other dynamics—the Great Çukurova Economic Basin will become a reality. It is enough for the political authorities to simply show the will and provide the resources...

Stay well; we will be here again next week!