Muğla to become a yachting capital

The work in Muğla is part of the Undersecretariat for Foreign Trade’s "Technical Assistance to Development of a Cluster Policy" for Turkey. The policy will receive 6 million euros from the European Union. Representatives of the sector said the government should do its part for the project to be convincing.

The “Muğla Yacht Manufacturing and Tourism Cluster Project" was explained and road maps to increase the efficiency between sectors were discussed at a seminar last week. In the first stage, steps will be taken to form a commission to coordinate the governorship, businessmen in the yachting sector and foundations and societies to form solid projects to turn Muğla into a world yachting center. Muğla is to be one of the 10 pilot states for the project.

Muğla will be the yacht centerAli Boğa, general manager of export for the Undersecretariat for Foreign Trade, said the project started with the motto of “10 brands in 10 years,” which aims to increase Turkey's share of EU funds and they have chosen 10 states as pilot areas to reach out to the world.

“I cannot stand Turkey being labeled as a country that cannot create projects. Neither would the young generations of Turkey,” said Boğa, adding that some considerable ground has been covered and these kinds of projects are positive steps for Turkey on its path to join the EU.

“Turkish Schooners and yachts will become known brand and publicized around the world. On our way to the EU, it is time to both renovate the technology and multiply our income four or five times,” said Boğa.

Murat Gürsoy, a specialist at the Undersecretariat for Foreign Trade, said the project aims to create a constructive dialogue between the business world and the public sector through developing an industrial cluster. “Not only the business community, but public foundations and civil society organizations will be participating in this project.” Gürsoy said sectors would offer reports on the results coming from their communications with the undersecretariat.

These reports will be evaluated and, through scientific inventory, they will be put into practice by groups of sector representatives. “The potential to manufacture yachts in Muğla will be beneficial at the highest level, not only for yachters but for all establishments and corporations related to this sector,” said Gürsoy, adding that the important factor is providing coordination between the sectors and to create the best working environment.

‘Clean your bays first’Captain Arif Yılmaz, a member of the Bodrum Chamber of Maritime Trade, said even though Bodrum and Muğla were among the leading yacht manufacturing centers, long-term plans are based on modern production, promotion yachts and preservation of blue voyage routes. “It is because of the EU coming under the spotlight that they want Muğla to be chosen as a pilot area, but boats and yachts have been manufactured here for 2,000 years,” Yılmaz said.

According to Yılmaz, the government is not protecting the yachting sector. The dockyards of Bodrum have delivery dates up to five years for million-dollar yachts and 50 percent of bays on blue voyage routes are threatened by illegal housing.

“If the yachting sector is to be presented to the world, first the government should take serious steps toward protecting and supporting the manufacturers, the bays and the maritime sector,” said Yılmaz, adding that otherwise, these projects will remain on paper. Yılmaz said the manufacturers and the maritime sector are taking risks and so should the government.