SERVICES FOR THE PROVISION OF SUSTAINABLE COMPETITIVENESS
ICI, by taking into consideration the changing conditions in the world and the general
developments, provides extensive information and guidance services for its members.
Industry Congresses for Sustainable Competitiveness
The themes of the Industry Congresses are principally designated to include macro
and micro issues. These Congresses are held every year, since 2002, in order to
contribute to the solution recommendations by creating a discussion platform concerning
the problems of the industry and to inform the industrialists about the national
and international developments.
Sectoral Strategy and Policy Reports
With the active contribution of ICI Professional Committees, the current position
of the sectors within the national and international arena is defined and their
prospective competitiveness is evaluated. These studies assist our members in developing
prospective sectoral strategies and are conducted by our Research Department.
Investment Incentives Guidance
Following up the current investment incentive legislation, recommending the required
changes by evaluating the legislation, informing our members about the changes in
the legislation, and providing guidance services regarding these issues are among
the permanent activities of our Chamber. Our Industry Department provides assistance
to our members, within the framework of the application guide prepared for the investors,
for the problems they face.
Information Services for SMEs
In order to enable SMEs to succeed in the world competition conditions in parallel
with the importance they bear for the economy of the country, our SMEs Services
Department provides preliminary consultation and information services concerning
the relevant changes in the legislation, loans, alternative finance opportunities,
government subsidies, KOSGEB (Small and Medium Sized Industry Development Organization)
subsidies, science and technology policies, national innovation system, new technology
entrepreneurship, intellectual property rights, industrial design, modern management
techniques, university-industry cooperation and European Union-SMEs programs.
SME Management Approach - ICI-KOSGEB SME Corporate Development Support Project
"ICI-KOSGEB SME Corporate Development Support Project", developed in order to provide
an understandable and result-oriented model that will assist Small- and medium-scaled
enterprises (SME) for the improvement of their management quality, is conducted
by our SME Services Department in cooperation with KOSGEB with the objective of
disseminating this project among the ICI members and throughout the country.
SME Info Kit
The Quality and Technology Specialization Committee (ICI-QTSC) of Istanbul Chamber
of Industry develops easily-implemented and practical approaches for the industrial
enterprises, especially for the SMEs. Within this framework there are eight different
books: A study published under the title of SME Info Kit, "SME Management Approach",
"Industrial Design Guide", "Product Development Guide", "Intellectual Property Rights
Guide", "State Subsidies for the Industry", "Self-Evaluation Model in the Industry",
and "EU Framework Programs".
Self-Evaluation Model for the Industry
The Quality and Technology Specialization Committee (ICI-QTSC) of Istanbul Chamber
of Industry developed the "ICI-QTSC Self-Evaluation Model for SMEs" in order to
support the SMEs. This model is based on a simple, easily-understood and implemented
"test". The basic principle of this test is "self-control", and the test enables
the self-evaluation of firms, identifies the strong and weak points of the firm,
makes recommendations concerning the problematic areas and raises awareness on certain
issues. After the implementation of this model by the authorities in the firm, the
areas requiring improvement within the firm can be easily identified by an evaluation
conducted again by the firm's authorities.
Information and Guidance Services Regarding Management Systems
Information services and various seminars are conducted by Our Quality Management
Unit concerning "ISO 9001 Quality Management System Standard", which will directly
affect the international competitiveness, and by our Environment Department concerning
"ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Standard".
Guidance regarding Industry and Environment
Our members can obtain information from our Environment Department regarding the
more efficient use of energy and raw materials in accordance with the target of
developing the industry in harmony with the environment, and decreasing, recycling
and reusing waste at its source.
The Waste Stock Exchange
ICI developed the Waste Stock Exchange for reusing the waste created as a result
of production, evaluating them as second raw materials and saving from waste elimination
costs. At the Stock Exchange organized by our Environment Department, the firms
supplying their wastes and the firms demanding these wastes meet.
Export Incentives Guidance
Our Industry Department provides guidance services regarding the process and the
completion of the procedures required under the scope of Inward Processing and Temporary
Admission legislations.
Information and Guidance Services During the EU Negotiations
Our EU and Foreign Economic Relations Department organizes training activities concerning
such technical issues as various negotiation topics and project presentation to
EU, in order for our industrialists to pursue the legal amendments made to comply
with EU and to conduct impact analyses in relation with their field of business
activity during the EU negotiation process. Publications such as guidebooks and
brochures on various subjects related to the EU are prepared and presented to our
members for the sake of sharing information with wider sections.
Commercial Cooperation Opportunities with International Firms
Our EU and Foreign Economic Relations Department organizes training activities concerning
such technical issues as various negotiation topics and project presentation to
EU, in order for our industrialists to pursue the legal amendments made to comply
with EU and to conduct impact analyses in relation with their field of business
activity during the EU negotiation process. Publications such as guidebooks and
brochures on various subjects related to the EU are prepared and presented to our
members for the sake of sharing information with wider sections.
Euro Info Center (EIC)
Euro Info Centers (EIC) are established by the European Commission to inform SMEs
about the EU practices and to facilitate their doing business in Europe. There are
nearly 300 EICs in the EIC network that began its activities in 1987.
Istanbul-European Side Euro Info Center, conducting its activities
within the body of EU and Foreign Economic Relations Department, answers the questions
of those SMEs within its responsibility area on the European Union legislation and
practices and informs them about the commercial and investment opportunities in
European countries. Moreover, the experienced personnel of Istanbul Chamber of Industry,
who are specialized on different subjects, support the Euro Info Center team when
required. The most important medium for providing these services to SMEs is the
web site of Euro Info Center updated every day. There are business and investment
proposals, fairs, committee visit and seminar announcements, information banks concerning
legislation, EU and markets on this web site
(www.abm-istanbul.org) which became a reference point for most of the SMEs
within a short time. All of the Euro Info Centers, that aim to inform SMEs about
the business opportunities in Europe as well as to inform them about th e EU itself,
are parts of a Cooperation Database. Through this database, the profiles of the
firms in search of partners in the commercial, financial and technological fields
are published and their search for a partner is facilitated.
You can apply to our EU and Foreign Economic Relations Department concerning all
the subjects within the EIC activities and responsibility areas.
Foreign Trade Data Bank
Country and sector profiles related with foreign markets and foreign trade indicators
can be obtained from the EU and Foreign Economic Relations Department. You can access
to information about fairs, amendments to the legislation, export and import data,
national and international tender announcements from the web site of ICI or from
the department. Additionally, the business proposals received from abroad are evaluated
and communicated to our members through the ICI Periodical.
Target Markets Database
Our EU and Foreign Economic Relations Department prepares the foreign trade analyses
of Turkey on the basis of countries and products by using the Product Maps (P-maps)
and Interactive Trade Maps developed by the International Trade Center. Analyses
are based on the export and import figures of about 5,300 products within the framework
of the Customs Tariff Statistical Positions (CTSP) and obtained from the customs
of 180 countries by the International Trade Center. The analyses examine Turkey's
export potential within the target markets, comparison with other countries, market
shares of the products according to Turkey's Six-Digit Statistical Positions, the
development of this share in the course of time, competitors entering into the market
and the potential markets.
Bilateral Negotiations with Foreign Business Committees
EU and Foreign Economic Relations Department organizes meetings and bilateral negotiations
with foreign business committees that visit ICI. The expected results from these
meetings are investment partnerships between the firms, product purchases and sales,
logistics and technological cooperation.
Information on Foreign Trade Legislation and its Implementation
Our EU and Foreign Economic Relations Department contacts with the related institutions
and organizations in order to contribute to the solution of the general or firm-specific
problems of our members emanating from the foreign trade legislation or the implementation
of that legislation.
Activities Concerning Technical Legislation Harmonization with the EU
Within the framework of harmonization to the European Union technical legislation,
our Industry Department provides information to its members about the developments
concerning technical legislation harmonization and the CE mark, accreditation, standards
and the standardization practices in foreign trade.
Legal Guidance Concerning the Industrial Legislation
Our Legal Department provides guidance regarding the legal problems of our members
that fall into the province of ICI by pursuing the legal arrangements concerning
the industry together with other relevant departments and by informing our members
about these arrangements.