Yasaklar (“Bans”) was a legendary play by the duo of Zeki Alasya and Metin Akpinar… Some of the lines from the play, which subtly mocked the absurd bans imposed by the government in post-1980 Turkey, are still in the back of my mind.
We are far away from 1980 Turkey. Technology has changed, times have changed, the leading actors in the country have changed.
However, ‘bans’ are still on the agenda.
***
Exporters’ associations in Turkey are trying to produce projects and find solutions to problems in line with the demands of their members.
The common problem we face in the sector is the license and permit processes. The prolongation of bureaucratic procedures, the change in fashion when time is lost, the difficulty of investing in this uncertain environment…
Both the Istanbul Mineral Exporters’ Association (İMİB) and the Aegean Mineral Exporters’ Association (EMİB) want to address this issue.
The Ministry of Trade responded: Prohibitions…
In an unusual visionary move in Turkey, miners are launching a scholarship project for students who will shape the companies in the future.
The Ministry says: It is forbidden…
And it adds… You are an exporter association, you can only take steps to improve exports.
If you look at the book, they are right.
But…
You would think this is Sweden, where everything is done by the book!
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Give ear…
The earthquake destroyed us all. We’re devastated, but we’re still standing.
The state of the economy is obvious.
While mining is a sector that you need to embrace with all your hands at this point, this sector does not deserve to be distracted by ‘bans’ while struggling to pave the way for production.
If there are no solutions, at least don’t create new obstacles…
What did Diogenes say?
Don’t shadow me, I don’t ask for anything else!
