Under TOBB’s leadership, the Great Anatolia Logistic Organization (BALO) and Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) Rail Cargo Austria (RCA) have signed a protocol for joint venture in Germany.
BALO Board Chairman Harun Karacan and RCA Director Erik Regter signed the protocol with TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and ÖBB President Christian Kern acting as witnesses.
TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu, during his speech at the signature ceremony, stated that they want Anatolian cities’ economic cooperation Europe to increase and said, “For that, railway transportation is a must.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu, speaking at the signature ceremony which took place at the TOBB Twin Towers, stated that the entrepreneurs in Anatolia want to do more business with Europe. Pointing out that land transportation is not all too suited for this; Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that provinces such as İzmir, Bursa, Kocaeli and İstanbul conduct most of their trade with Europe whereas the share of trade with Europe of Anatolian provinces is an insignificant amount of the total.
Stating that they want the economic cooperation of Anatolian provinces with Europe to increase, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “If we are able to achieve this, Anatolian lions will become able to produce and sell more medium and high technology goods. For that, railway transportation is a must.”
Reminding that they conducted the first run from Manisa to Europe for the first time in 2013, Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that they’ve continued these operations.
Drawing attention to the fact that RCA is one of the largest freight transportation companies in Europe, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they have an understanding with the company to cooperate in the future.
Reminding that Turkey has a goal to achieve 500 billion USD in imports and 620 billion USD in exports by 2023, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “To this end, we must diversify transportation. Presently, we are dependent on road and sea transportation with rail transportation summing up to below 1% of total goods transported. We have to increase this ration. I believe that this step will act to benefit this effort.”
- “Turkey is a very strong country”
Austrian Federal Railways Director Christian Kern stated that the cooperation has already begun to bear fruit.
Stating that they’ve grasped an important opportunity for RCA, Kern said, “Turkey is a very strong and promising country. We want to benefit to the best of our ability from Turkey’s economic development during the next 10 years.”
BALO, formed under the leadership of TOBB by chambers, exchanges, OIZs and the International and Logistical Service Providers Association (UTİKAD) provides the international logistics sector with intermodal transportation with a focus on railways.
Currently running lines to 4 regions of Europe 3 days per week, BALO aims to increase this to 5 per week by 2015.
06/04/2013 BALO 2012 Ordinary Meeting of the General Assembly
BALO 2012 Ordinary Meeting of the General Assembly
13/03/2013 3rd Board of Directors Meeting of 2013 of BALO
The 3rd Board Meeting of BALO was held at İzmir head office.
02/03/2013 The Technical Committee of BALO Has Been to Germany for Wagon Inspect
The Technical Committee of BALO Have Been to Germany on 02 March in order to inspect the wagons that are thought to be operated in Turkey.
22/02/2013 BALO Participated at 11th Transportation, Maritime and Communication Council’s Meeting
11th Transportation, Maritime and Communication Council’s Meeting was held at TCDD
19/02/2013 Samsun-Kavkaz Train Ferry Line Openning Ceremony
BALO representatives participated in the openning ceremony of Samsun-Kavkaz Train Ferry Line, which provides combined freight transportation between Russia, Cenral Asia and Middle East via Turkey.
31/01/2013 BALO 2013-2nd Board of Directors Meeting
BALO 2013-2nd Board of Directors Meeting was held on 31 January 2013, Thursday at head office in Izmir.
24/01/2013 BALO Presentation in Bursa BOSIAD
In ownership of Bursa BOSIAD Organizational Industry Zone, BALO made a presentation defining itself.
22/01/2013 BALO’s Presentation in Gebze Chamber of Commerce
The first BALO presentation of 2013 was made in the charge of Gebze Chamber of Commerce.
15/01/2013 BALO E-Catalog
You shall reach to corporate catalog of BALO on web site.
11/01/2013 Visit to Duisburg Terminal
Mr Suleyman Yolcu as Vice Chairman, Mr Turgut Erkeskin as Board Member, Mr Huseyin Isteermis as General Manager, and Mr Erkan Aksoy as Transport Manager of BALO visited Duisburg Terminal in Germany on 11 January 2013, Friday.
