Duran proposes a ‘industrial zones’ solution against distorted urbanization.

Ilker Duran, President of the Bursa AFSIAD Board of Directors, who draws attention to the reality of earthquakes, stated that shifting industrialization outside the city will also pave the way for the elimination of distorted urbanization.

The Bursa Afyonkarahisar Industrialists and Businessmen Association (Bursa AFSIAD) continues to offer solutions related to issues closely concerning the regional and national economy. Dr. Ilker Duran, President of Bursa AFSIAD, expressed that the 5.9 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Malatya last week reminded everyone once again of the reality of earthquakes. He stated that following the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes on February 6, 2023, a grim toll was faced. President Duran noted that as the business world, they are closely monitoring the steps taken in this regard. Duran said, “The provision of 23 billion lira for supporting social housing financing in the budget discussions that will begin today in the Parliament is quite important. We lost more than 50,000 citizens in the earthquake disaster we experienced on February 6, and we faced over 100 billion dollars in material destruction. The most significant part of this loss occurred in housing damage, amounting to approximately 57 billion dollars. It is possible to say that one of the main reasons for the economic difficulties we are experiencing today is the February 6 earthquake.”

President Ilker Duran continued his speech as follows:

“The earthquake stands before us as an important reality of our country. Technical experts frequently explain the solutions. As the business world, we must also pay great attention to the economic reflections of the earthquake reality. When we look at the issue specifically in Bursa, we encounter the fact that there are about 40,000 illegal buildings. The neighborhoods where these buildings are concentrated are generally known as areas inhabited by worker families. These families live around the industrial zones concentrated at the eastern, western, and northern entrances of the city. It can be somewhat predicted what results these unplanned living spaces, which are integrated with the city center, will yield in the anticipated Marmara earthquake. At this point, we see the primary step to be taken as the establishment of new production centers in areas outside the city. As the business world, we believe that the Bursa Technology Industrial Zone, or known as TEKNOSAB, which has been brought to our city under the leadership of BTSO, serves as a model example. Located 30 kilometers west of the city center, TEKNOSAB was established not only for high-tech and environmentally friendly production but also as an alternative to the congestion in the center. In this sense, another significant project to be established outside the city is undoubtedly the SME OSB (Organized Industrial Zone). A different region of the city can be evaluated for this project. If we can move industry outside the city, we can also pave the way for planned urbanization that will develop around it. In the progressing process, the population that will settle in planned and safe buildings on lands that have lost their agricultural function will also facilitate the abandonment of distorted urban areas in the center. Furthermore, this will allow the city to breathe, and many of the current problems, especially traffic, will also be minimized.