The first ‘Grain and Grain Products Innovation Centre’ of the sector is being implemented in Ankara by the Association of Milling and Sector Machinery Manufacturers (DESMÜD). Chairman Zeki Demirtaşoğlu told Anadolu Agency that with the completion of the centre, they aim to increase export figures in the sector from $3 billion to $8 billion in the next 10 years.
New Horizons for the Sector with Innovation Centre
In the evaluations he gave to Anadolu Agency, the Chairman shared important information on the innovations that the innovation centre will bring to the sector and the benefits it will provide. He stressed that this centre will both respond to the need for qualified workforce and increase the sector's international competitiveness and raise quality standards.
The centre will be established on 4.5 decares of land in Sincan district of Ankara and will be equipped with new generation flour, bread, pasta, biscuit and chocolate production lines. In addition, there will be R&D and quality control laboratories, conference halls, classrooms, administrative offices and hotel accommodation facilities.
Qualified Education and International Collaborations
At the innovation centre, at least 500 personnel working in the sector will be offered training at international standards by professors and associate professors who are experts in their fields. At the same time, cultural interaction and international cooperation will be developed with trainees from Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Turkic republics.
Target 8 Billion Dollars Export in 10 Years
The centre will play an important role in achieving the sector's export targets and contribute to the adoption of innovative technologies, the Chairman told Anadolu Agency. ‘When our centre is completed, we believe that the sector will reach a much greater potential. By increasing quality and productivity, we hope to make a direct positive contribution to national income.’
Stating that as DESMÜD, they set out to reinforce the leadership of the sector and assume a leading role in the global arena, Demirtaşoğlu added that this centre will set a unique example in the world.
