MUSIAD LAUNCHES SELF SUFFICIENT AND ISOLATED MANUFACTURING BASES
of the coronavirus has AS THE SPREAD slowed, various countries are taking steps toward normalizing their societies. But what does normalization mean? Authorities have warned that nothing will be the same again. The first signs of that ‘new normal’ emerged last week after the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (MUSIAD) took the step of transforming its 7-year old Medium-Sized Industrial Zone project into Isolated Production Bases. According to the plan, whenever a “base” closes its doors due to a pandemic, earthquake, or other natural disaster, it will shift to a preplanned self-sufficient production capacity.
The first base, located in Tekirdag, will begin production on June 15. The association has already acquired the necessary permit from the Ministry of Industry and Technology and the Ministry of Environment and is currently working on bases in Istanbul’s Hadimkoy district, Hassa, and the Black Sea. A single base will be able to host 1,000 families and nearly 4,500 people and is designed as a living community, not an organized industrial zone (IOZ). A Logistics Guest House, suitable for 14 days of quarantine, will be situated separately.
The project will have the characteristics of a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) exchange since it will close down when necessary. MUSIAD aims to include all vital sectors to maintain economic activity across the country and continuous production under all conditions.
The Project’s report underlines that isolated/sterile production bases will run every production-trade chain in any crisis condition, from supply to sales. Employees will be allowed to work with substitute and subsidiary sectors. Employees will live with their families and all of the individuals residing on the base will receive healthcare services. Through educational institutions and a vocational high school, the base will meet the need for qualified employees. The base will be able to continue production and manage the processes of dutiable storehouses, warehouses, and sanitation in case of a recurring pandemic or a natural disaster. The facility will have its own water filtration and purification systems. The infrastructure of the base is projected to last for 300 years.. Buildings, dorms, and healthcare facilities across the bases will be earthquake resistant.
MUSIAD is set to become the standard-setter for the isolated production base model. The association aims to spread this model across all partners, especially its members. Investment venture funds and participation banks are funding the project. The report also underlines that Germany’s Ministry of Energy and Economy is discussing a similar project but MUSIAD’s model pre-dates the German attempt by seven years.