Anatolia is located where the vast majority of the Republic of Turkey has played an important role in world trade for thousands of years. These lands, in which money was invented, have been a preferred route for transportation of precious products such as silk to Europe, especially by China, Far East and Central Asian countries. The caravanserais serving in Anatolia, which is the key point of the Historical Silk Road, detailed in the Anatolian Logistics History book published by UTIKAD, hosted both merchants and facilitated the trade. Despite the hundreds of years passed, Anatolia maintains its intercontinental 'bridge' position.
As well as socio-economic relations between Turkey and the Far East is based on the centuries. In order to catch up with the foreign trade and export figures targeted in the coming periods, trade with the Far East countries should be improved. In the Davos Summit, which took place in the past months, international trade changes direction and the East gains importance every year.
When viewed in the Far East special logistics to the relations with the countries already today thanks to evolving technology and infrastructure investments in Turkey and for different modes of transport and freight transport between the countries located in this region can be constructed. In addition to China's railway investments, the regional states motivate this issue, as well as cross-country agreements for roads create alternatives in transportation and logistics activities. Likewise particularly shipments by sea between the Far East, particularly China and Turkey provides access to the ports of Europe and the world market within the borders of our country. Turkey is now by air, sea, land and rail routes between Europe and Asia has assumed the role as a bridge.
When we observe the transportation activities between the Far East and our country, first of all, seaway and airline come. A very important part of foreign trade with the Far East is carried by seaway and container. The most important factor here is that the costs are much more affordable. However, in the last quarter of 2016, bankruptcy of Hanjin Shipping, the seventh largest container line operator in the world, caused fluctuations in the container market. Especially for medium and small line operators, the sustainability of the market has become dangerous. The unification of shipowners after these developments led to a decrease in the supply of ships, and thus the low costs that led to the preference of the seaway. Rising container import freight continued to increase the costs of both our importers and exporters producing semi-finished imports based on transports from the Far East.
Despite all these disadvantages, rapid growth in the field of e-commerce has increased the importance of the Far East market, especially China. Another important factor was the fact that Turkish companies were actively involved in infrastructure investments in Central Asia.
As a natural result of this situation, the Turkish logistics industry has made important attempts to find a solution to the cost problem associated with these modes. UTIKAD which takes place between members of the Far Eastern partners when establishing firms with business associations, taking part in the network network has continued, especially in the weight of the cargo transported to Turkey and Europe's main port China.
In the coming years, we anticipate that our logistics activities will increase in parallel with foreign trade between Asia, Far East and Southeast Asian countries as well as China. Especially with the effects of Industry 4.0 and China's One Generation and One Road project, we can say that much more cooperation will be realized with Asian and Far East countries in the coming years.
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