Gefco Turkey looks to end of the crisis
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 18, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Operating in Turkey since 2002, Gefco considers the country as a high-potential market. Fulvio Villa, general manager of Gefco Turkey, says the firm is looking forward to expand in the car logistics sector as the effects of the crisis subside.
With Turkey’s automotive industry as its main focus, Gefco Turkey is looking forward to expanding in Turkey’s car logistics sector once the effects of the global financial crisis diminish.
Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review, Gefco Turkey General Manager Fulvio Villa said the ongoing crisis is forcing companies to remain cautious in their future plans, but that Turkey represents considerable potential in car logistics. Gefco Tukrey is a subsidiary of France-based Gefco Group, which is one of the leading transport and logistic companies in Europe.
"We are not worried about operating in Turkey. This is a global crisis, not a local one. So there are no countries that can be described as ’safe’ in terms of running business in this period," he told the Daily News.
Operating in Turkey since 2002, Gefco considers the country as a high-potential market and plans its future investments according to this principle.
"We believe that the activity in the automotive sector will rise considerably in the medium- and long-term. That is why Gefco will keep investing in Turkey," said Villa, who joined the Gefco Group in 2004.
"Automotive is not the only sector, we are also providing services. We developed our activities in Turkey in order to gain new customers and provide logistics services for different sectors," he told the Daily News.
Planning the future
Having a broad service network worldwide, Gefco provides air and sea transport, clearance and storage services in Turkey as well as operating in the car logistics field. The company plans to increase its market share in fast moving consumer goods, or FMCG, sector in Turkey.
Speaking on the extent of the effects of the current crisis on the company’s short-term plans in Turkey, Villa said Gefco Turkey postponed some plans until the end of the crisis. "We consider the year 2009 as a dead year," he said.
"We realized a turnover of 60 million euros in 2008. For 2009, our target is to retain this figure, depending on the market situation in Turkey’s logistics sector," Villa said. "Automotive is not the only sector that we provide services. Gefco developed its activities in Turkey in order to gain new customers and provide logistics services for other sectors. We also give importance to air and sea freight activities as well as other areas."
While foreseeing a serious growth potential in Turkey’s market, Villa said there is still much to be done in terms of infrastructure. But the will of the officials to improve the infrastructure is encouraging, he said.
"We are hopeful about the infrastructure improvements in Turkey," said Villa. "There are things that are done and there is a will to [do more]. There is a master plan including roads, railways and ports and we observe the developments in line with this plan."
Gefco Turkey grew 49 percent in 2008. The company has a 10 percent of market share in vehicle logistics market in Turkey. Before the crisis, Gefco planned a 100 million euro-worth investment package in Eastern Europe, of which Turkey is a part.
Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review, Gefco Turkey General Manager Fulvio Villa said the ongoing crisis is forcing companies to remain cautious in their future plans, but that Turkey represents considerable potential in car logistics. Gefco Tukrey is a subsidiary of France-based Gefco Group, which is one of the leading transport and logistic companies in Europe.
"We are not worried about operating in Turkey. This is a global crisis, not a local one. So there are no countries that can be described as ’safe’ in terms of running business in this period," he told the Daily News.
Operating in Turkey since 2002, Gefco considers the country as a high-potential market and plans its future investments according to this principle.
"We believe that the activity in the automotive sector will rise considerably in the medium- and long-term. That is why Gefco will keep investing in Turkey," said Villa, who joined the Gefco Group in 2004.
"Automotive is not the only sector, we are also providing services. We developed our activities in Turkey in order to gain new customers and provide logistics services for different sectors," he told the Daily News.
Planning the future
Having a broad service network worldwide, Gefco provides air and sea transport, clearance and storage services in Turkey as well as operating in the car logistics field. The company plans to increase its market share in fast moving consumer goods, or FMCG, sector in Turkey.
Speaking on the extent of the effects of the current crisis on the company’s short-term plans in Turkey, Villa said Gefco Turkey postponed some plans until the end of the crisis. "We consider the year 2009 as a dead year," he said.
"We realized a turnover of 60 million euros in 2008. For 2009, our target is to retain this figure, depending on the market situation in Turkey’s logistics sector," Villa said. "Automotive is not the only sector that we provide services. Gefco developed its activities in Turkey in order to gain new customers and provide logistics services for other sectors. We also give importance to air and sea freight activities as well as other areas."
While foreseeing a serious growth potential in Turkey’s market, Villa said there is still much to be done in terms of infrastructure. But the will of the officials to improve the infrastructure is encouraging, he said.
"We are hopeful about the infrastructure improvements in Turkey," said Villa. "There are things that are done and there is a will to [do more]. There is a master plan including roads, railways and ports and we observe the developments in line with this plan."
Gefco Turkey grew 49 percent in 2008. The company has a 10 percent of market share in vehicle logistics market in Turkey. Before the crisis, Gefco planned a 100 million euro-worth investment package in Eastern Europe, of which Turkey is a part.