As BALO Batı Anadolu Lojistik Organizasyonlar INC. we held our General Assembly Meeting with the participation of esteemed Mr. M. Rifat HISARCIKLIOGLU

As BALO Batı Anadolu Lojistik Organizasyonlar INC. we held our General Assembly Meeting with the participation of esteemed Mr. M. Rifat HISARCIKLIOGLU, the TOBB Chairman and the delegates of our shareholders from 89 chamber of commerces, commodity exchanges and organized industry zones, UTIKAD ( Association of International Forwarding and Logistics Service Providers), and UMAT Inc on 22 June 2012 in Izmir.

Priorly to the Extraordinary General Assembly Meeting we had lunch together at Aegean Region Chamber of Industry. An informative presentation was made about the company and the activities that have been carried out until today by our Deputy General Manager Mr. Huseyin ISTEERMIS.

Esteemed Mr. Bülent Koşmaz, as Vice President of the Board of Directors of TOBB and the Chairman of our company, explained the founding process and plans of BALO as following:

“The sleeping giant “railway transportation” since 65 years is awakening. We aim to transport the export products that are produced in Anatolia to Europe, to old Soviet and Scandinavian countries via Viking Train Agreement, to Commonwealth of Independent States through Pakistani Train via Silk Route ( supported by the President of Republic), and to Arabian Peninsula. Furthermore, we also target to transport the shipments from Europe, which pass Turkey in transit, to Middle East, Arab countries, and Islamabad via Pakistani Train.”

Before the General Assembly, esteemed TOBB Chairman Mr. HISARCIKLIOGLU was invited to the stage and he indicated BALO as one of the best examples of TOBB’s attitude for generating ideas despite to the problems and taking concrete steps in order to convert them to a project.

Mr. HISARCIKLIOGLU started to his speech as following: “Today I am excited here. First of all, I would like to congratulate our partners for their vision to join BALO. You as the main representatives of Turkish private sector, whom whole world is watching in admiration, have achieved a great work.

Mr.HİSARCIKLIOĞLU mentioned that BALO Inc. is the unity of power and mind of 75 chambers and exchanges, 15 organized industrial zones, UMAT,UTİKAD and TOBB. He also said that every shareholder has investment and effort even those are big or small. But the investment’s amount is not important, the point is to get together, there is also a good proverb “There is mercy and profusion in unity, bate in separation”. We come together with a great vision, prosperity will follow.

Also Mr.HİSARCIKLIOĞLU mentioned that:

“While Istanbul exports %51 , Izmir %61, Bursa %78 to Europe : Konya located in the center of Anatolia exports %33 and Gaziantep exports only %24 to Europe. Thus Anatolia cannot enter customs union because of freight charges that decreases competitiveness. That’s the reason why chambers, exchanges and organized industrial zones located in Anatolia get more share when BALO Inc. went public. They took responsibility in order to make their cities more integrated with European markets. So I say BALO is not a Western Anatolia Logistics Project no more it is Great Anatolian Logistics Project.

From now on our industrialists will transport their goods in a cheapest and punctual way to Europe. The whole transportation period will be tracked by modern systems. On the other hand, BALO Project will become a world project. While Turkish goods transported to Europe, with the Viking train this line will reach to Scandinavian countries. Furthermore, with the connection of Hedjaz railway line BALO will become the Turkey’s gateway to Middle East.

Once again together with the reconstruct of historical Silk Road Project, Turkey will be the main logistic base of whole world geography from Atlantic to Pacific and from Baltic Sea to Red Sea. Turkey will be the logistic center of world’s goods. I would like to congratulate all chambers and exchanges, organized industrial zones and all shareholders that put their visions and work. I wish BALO Inc. General Assembly Meeting be beneficial to our country and salute you all with respect.”

After Mr. HISARCIKLIOGLU’s meaningful speech, our chairman Bülent KOŞMAZ said that I feel proud to present the plaquet ,which is made of rail and traverse belonging to first railway between Izmir and Aydın in Anatolia in the year 1856, to esteemed president who shares our faith and encourages us to contribute our country’s export target for the year 2023. Then, Mr KOSMAZ presented the stock sertificate of TOBB.

According to our General Assembly, the following delegates among our shareholders were elected as BALO Batı Anadolu Lojistik Organizasyonlar INC Board of Directors’ and Board of Supervisors’ Members. All together with our partners we have come closer to our main goal. We wish it to be beneficial for our country, partners, and company.