Establishment permits to be granted by the Logistics Coordination Board

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu provided information regarding the "Draft Regulation on Logistics Centers" prepared by the Ministries of Transport and Infrastructure and Trade.

Stating that the draft regulates the procedures and principles to be applied in the site selection, project design, construction, authorization, and operation of existing and newly established logistics centers within the country's borders, Uraloğlu said, "Determining the location, capacity, and similar characteristics of logistics centers within the scope of the Transport and Logistics Master Plan prepared by the Ministry, granting permits, coordinating relevant institutions regarding necessary land allocation and infrastructure establishment, and following up and auditing their implementation will be carried out by the General Directorate of Transport Services Regulation."

Uraloğlu stated that the Logistics Coordination Executive Board will carry out the necessary work for the planning and construction of logistics centers, and that TCDD is authorized to ensure private sector participation and establish partnerships for logistics centers to be built by TCDD.

Pointing out that the founder of the logistics center will be responsible for preparing projects and specifications for logistics centers in accordance with the legislation, obtaining necessary permits, and following up on the provisions and commitments of the protocols to be signed, Uraloğlu assessed, "The founder will be able to operate, lease, or transfer the logistics centers. The responsibility for ensuring the provisions of the protocol and operating license arranged throughout the necessary licensing and operation period will lie with the logistics center operator."

Site selection for logistics centers

Uraloğlu explained that for an area to be designated as a logistics center, it must serve Turkey's domestic and foreign trade strategies and policies.

Emphasizing that in addition to road connections, the center must have connection opportunities to at least one other mode of transport within a maximum distance of 30 kilometers, Uraloğlu said:

"Logistics centers will be established on a minimum area of 500 thousand square meters, excluding expansion areas. The center will not be located on roads or railways with high traffic density. Within the scope of the regulation we have prepared, there will be a minimum road distance of 50 kilometers between the logistics center to be established and the nearest logistics center. The zoning plans of the centers must not include areas designated as protected sites, residential areas, or agricultural land."

Uraloğlu stated that logistics centers will operate on a 24/7 basis and that activities there will be conducted in an economic, safe, high-quality, free, fair, and sustainable competitive environment.

Emphasizing that operators of logistics centers are responsible for establishing or having established infrastructure and superstructure facilities, protecting the structures and facilities, and ensuring security by monitoring entries and exits, Uraloğlu said, "Furthermore, operators will be responsible for ensuring that users' industrial, commercial, and activity records are kept and that they operate in the areas specified in the operating license."

Establishment permits to be granted by the Logistics Coordination Board

Uraloğlu announced that logistics centers granted establishment permits by the Logistics Coordination Board will be announced by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, and that the work and procedures related to the announcement will be carried out by the Board's secretariat.

Providing information on the logistics centers currently being worked on, Uraloğlu noted the following:

"The logistics centers in İzmit Köseköy, Eskişehir Hasanbey, Uşak, İstanbul Halkalı, Denizli Kaklık, Balıkesir Gökköy, Erzurum Palandöken, Kahramanmaraş Türkoğlu, Samsun Gelemen, Konya Kayacık, Mersin Yenice, and Kars are the centers opened for operation in Turkey. On the other hand, the construction of the İzmir Kemalpaşa, Sivas, Kayseri Boğazköprü, and Rize İyidere centers is ongoing. In addition to these, the project for the Bilecik Bozüyük Logistics Center has been completed. Furthermore, the İzmir Çandarlı, İstanbul Yeşilbayır, Zonguldak Filyos, Mardin, and Habur logistics centers are in the study and planning phase, and the tender process for the Tekirdağ Çerkezköy Logistics Center is continuing. We will utilize our geographical strategic advantages to the fullest with the new centers we will establish. We will establish and strengthen an integrated transport infrastructure within the investment plan in every region of Turkey. Thus, while exports gain momentum, the logistics sector will gain additional transport capacity."