Healing With the Spirit of Solidarity
When I was little, when a neighbor passed away, whole neighborhood would mourn. TVs would not be switched on, shopkeepers would not open their shops except for basic needs. Everyone would do something for the burial of the deceased and to support the relatives. Unfortunately, I used to think that we lost this culture when we moved from rural to urban life. The unprecedented mobilization of our nation after the devastating earthquake we experienced on the morning of 6 February was actually an indication that this culture is alive in our hearts. This exact spirit of solidarity gave us hope that we would overcome our sufferings together and rebuild our destroyed cities in a short time.
Our exporters also became a part of this solidarity and our sectors directed their production from clothing to food, from tents to containers to the region in order to urgently meet the needs of earthquake victims. As the exporters family, we took action to help the earthquake victims from the first day. With our 61 exporter associations, we started an aid mobilization for the region under the leadership of TIM and in coordination with AFAD. In the first phase, we shipped emergency supplies such as blankets, clothes, shoes, food and infant formulas. We continue to dispatch aid materials in line with the need lists updated by AFAD. Up until today, we have sent hundreds of trucks full of aid materials to disaster areas.
We believe that the faster the normalization steps are taken, the faster the social traumas can be alleviated. The solution of the temporary shelter problem is also vital for returning to the ordinary course of life in the region. For that cause, we have implemented the TIM Container & Prefabricated Housing Project. As TIM, we will also provide the living units of the houses where approximately five thousand earthquake victims will be sheltered in the first stage. The delivery of the houses will start at the third week of March.
Although we faced an earthquake disaster of unprecedented magnitude, the export family worked hard to ensure that production and trade did not stop while trying to heal the wounds of earthquake victims. Despite everything, our export volume reached 18.6 billion dollars in February. The exports of 11 provinces in the earthquake region decreased by 43 per cent to 985 million dollars. Production continues in provinces such as Gaziantep and Adana, which were less affected by the earthquake. In Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman and Malatya, the wheels started to turn. I expect that the capacity will increase to 60 per cent after the Ramadan Feast.
Export still has a critical role in the development of the country's economy, so we have to increase our trade. According to TURKSTAT data, the Turkish economy grew by 5.6 per cent last year. About 40 per cent of this growth came from the contribution of exports of goods and services. Despite the tremendous disaster, we will work with all our strength to demonstrate the highest performance in exports in the centennial of the Republic. We will participate in more fairs, organize more trade delegations to all markets, far, and near. We will host more purchasing delegations in our country.
Our pain is immense, our hearts broken. Once again I wish our wounded heals soon and patience to those who lost their relatives.