Sarten Ambalaj, which is the largest one in the metal packaging in Turkey and among the top 10 in the world, is planning to grow with new investments. Zeki Sarıbekir, CEO of Serten Ambalaj, stating that they are celebrating their 50th anniversary as a company, said that they made the plans of this year 10 years ago and that their plans of 60th year are already ready. Sarıbekir, expressing that they set the target to be a packaging company worth 1 billion dollars in 2030, but they moved it to earlier, noted that they estimate that they will reach the target by 2026 at the latest. Sarıbekir emphasized that Sarten will be a regional leader firm by 2030.
30 factories are targeted in 2030
Sarıbekir, explaining that they expect to finish this year with a turnover of 700 million dollars, said “Our factory investments are continuing. By building one factory every year, we aim to enter the year 2030 with 30 factories. We established a factory in Çerkezköy this year. We started a factory investment in Niğde finally; we are planning to open the factory in April-May 2023. Niğde and its surroundings will be places where agriculture and agriculture-based industry will develop. At the same time, it is the future of Turkey as agriculture. For that reason, we attach great importance to our investment in Niğde. Because we are a packaging manufacturer, we are going wherever our customers go.”
“Vocational high schools are very important to us”
Zeki Sarıbekir recording that they as Sarten export to almost every part of the world and grow enough to establish a factory every year, pointed out that the issue of trained personnel continues to cause a problem. Saribekir said “We can build one factory every year, but in order to establish two ones, we cannot find human resources. It is necessary for us to train young people and accordingly, vocational high schools are very important. Currently, we value vocational high school youth more than university students. There is a lot of work for high school graduates who learn the technique of the job. For many years, we have been supporting Silivri Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School to bring new workshops and cultural activity areas. In 2020, it was decided to change the name of the school to Yusuf Sarıbekir Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, with the name of our founder Yusuf Sarıbekir, the honorary president of Sarten Ambalaj.
We are proudly continuing our efforts to support our school and many others. Furthermore, we contribute to increase the practical knowledge of students studying here by taking them to internship programs in our factories.”
Zeki Sarıbekir, declaring that 3 thousand 200 people are working in Sarten and this figure will reach 3 thousand 500 people with the new factory, said that production will increase even more with the vocational high school students.
Sarıbekir, giving information about that investments abroad continue, stated that the factory did not close despite the war in Russia, but they suspended the investments. Sarıbekir said that they dispatched semi-finished products and raw materials from Turkey and they can also make collections. Zeki Sarıbekir expressed that they had to go down to a single shift although they were planning to increase to three shifts in the Netherlands, and stated that the increase in energy costs and economic contraction negatively influenced them there due to the war in Russia.
The recipe for the salvation of the economy is export
Sarıbekir emphasizing that the salvation of the Turkish economy is through exports, stated that each company should export at least half of what it produces. Zeki Sarıbekir, stated that it is necessary to concentrate especially on the export of value-added products, noted that raw material investments should also be emphasized.
It is looking for company abroad to buy
Sarıbekir stating that they will continue to grow in metal packaging, which is their main business line abroad, underlined that they will constantly follow the company acquisition opportunities in this field. Zeki Sarıbekir said “Europe is at the nearer geography and if we have a direct competitor America, we would like to buy this firm. We are satisfied in metal packaging at home. We can make company purchases not in metal packaging, but in packaging items that we do not produce such as glass and paper.”
Let’s reduce waste imports gradually
Sarıbekir said that he is also the President of the Packaging Manufacturers Association (ASD), stated that all products should be sold in packaging. Zeki Sarıbekir said “Even if a product is in the worst packaging, it is better than being sold in the open. I always say this, packaging prolongs human life. Even when you drink bottled water, the packaging has a brand; it is clear where the source comes from. Packaging gives an identity to the product, so I defend all packaging. Packaging does not pollute the environment, people pollute it. If you litter it, you pollute, if you recycle it, you can reuse it. All of them can be recycled.”
Zeki Sarıbekir mentioning Turkey’s plastic waste imports said “It is right to import some amount in order for the recycling industry to develop, but it is necessary to develop the industry and stop imports as soon as possible. By reducing it by 20 percent every year it can be canceled. Let’s not ban it in one day, but in 5 years. We are definitely not a country that will be able to use the world’s garbage. It should be collected in the same way in Turkey as it is collected all over the world.”