Özova Group became the first in Turkey – 16.05.2018 İskenderun.Org

Özova Group, one of the region’s most powerful agricultural companies, became the first company in Turkey to complete the warehouse tender for the construction of licensed warehouses on a long-term lease basis to the private sector, in accordance with the tender specifications. The Ministry of Agriculture, which aims to build 4.2 million-ton capacity warehouses at 90 locations nationwide, continues its warehouse construction activities where needed. The Ministry, aiming to commission a 2.5 million-ton portion of the project in 2018 and the entire warehouse by the end of 2019, organized an event at the TMO Güvercinlik facilities to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Turkish Grain Board (TMO). Murat İçcan, Chairman of the Board of Özova Group, one of the region’s most powerful agricultural companies, was also invited to the event. As part of the celebrations, Özova Group’s Platinyum Tarım Ürünleri Lisanslı Depoculuk A.Ş. became the first company in Turkey to complete the warehouse tender for the construction of licensed warehouses on a long-term lease basis to the private sector, in accordance with the tender specifications. Recognizing this as a success, the Ministry of Agriculture presented Group Chairman Murat İçcan with a plaque from Minister Ahmet Eşref Fakıbaba. This plaque demonstrates the company’s status as a symbol of reliability and pride both in Turkey and the region. In a statement, Özova Group stated that it operates the only licensed warehouse in the region and provided the following information: “If our producers deliver their products to Grain Tarım Ürünleri Lisanslı Depoculuk A.Ş., a company within the Özova Group, under licensed warehouse conditions, the Ministry of Agriculture will cover the warehouse rental fee this year. They will not pay a 25 lira analysis fee when delivering their products. They will receive a 25 lira transportation support per ton, a first this year. Upon selling their products, producer farmers will not pay a 2 percent withholding tax (21 TL) or a 2 percent Social Security Institution fee (21 TL). In this context, farmers will earn 67 TL per ton. They will be able to take out unconditional, guarantor-free loans through Ziraat Bank and the Agricultural Credit Cooperative, and the Ministry of Agriculture will cover all interest on the loan. With all this support from the Ministry of Agriculture, for example, a producer bringing 20 tons of their products to a licensed warehouse will be able to earn up to 1,450 lira, whether they sell it to the Turkish Grain Board (TMO), a merchant, or an industrialist.” TRADITION REMAINS KEPT IN ÖZOVA Meanwhile, Özova Agricultural Products Co. Ltd., which has harvested the first crop of the season in the region for 30 years, continued its tradition this season. Özova Group Deputy Chairman Mete İçcan stated that the company always stands by farmers, stating that the price of the crop is paid before the sweat of their brow dries. Mete İçcan noted that they have operated with a farmer-friendly approach since their inception, saying, “We reward farmers for their hard work by setting the highest crop prices. Due to this understanding, we continued our tradition, which we started 30 years ago, by harvesting the first wheat of the season. Levent İmren, one of our farmers in the plains, delivered the wheat he grew to our company’s licensed warehouse. We initiated the harvest season by purchasing the first wheat of the season at a symbolic price.” He also wished farmers a bountiful and fruitful season.