It is beyond doubt that automotive industry is one of the industries having major contribution in the development of Turkey which became one of the greatest 20 economies of the world and continues to grow with the aim of claiming its place in the first 10 by 2023. Automotive industry, which covers the total of automobile and vehicle industry, has become the largest exporter industry of our country in the recent years.
Such improvement in the automotive industry entailed development of supplier industry and supplier industries claimed significant shares in this performance. On-board equipment sector also has substantial contribution in this success.
Katmerciler, which we have founded in 1985 by foreseeing this potential long years ago, has became the innovative, pioneer and leader company in our country in the on-board equipment sector, with its experience exceeding quarter century. As the export leader of the sector that provides substantial amount of net foreign exchange input into the country, Katmerciler, with its sound and stable improvement, displays a success that can be taken as example by similar companies.
Looming large in the international scale with its vision of international collaboration, new product development and entering into new markets, Katmerciler has increased the number of exported countries to 41 as of October 2011.
Taking the lead in our sector with the partnership we entered with French Gimaex International on the aim of becoming an international brand, we established a new company taking İzmir as the center for management, production, and export. This company, called GimKat, will produce fire fighting vehicles and the main target will be foreign markets. While we increase our export power with GimKat, we will also bring in new technologies and new products in our country.
We also took another very significant step in improving our institutionalization and carrying the company to the future, by going public in November 2010. We are ardent to increase awareness toward our sector as much as possible through our corporate communication efforts while successfully representing our sector in IMKB as the single public company representative of our sector. We consider this effort as an integral part of our company mission.
The fundamental aspect carrying Katmerciler to this very point today is that it assumes an approach that takes care of its shareholders in each and every area of activity, focuses on customer satisfaction, and never compromises quality. This same understanding and approach will be the key to the future success of Katmerciler.
Katmerciler, which we consider a large family from employees to customers, solution providers to suppliers, to shareholders and investors, to business partners, will seamlessly work for economic and social development and welfare of our country.
Our target is render on-board equipment sector leader Katmerciler a brand on international scale and to become one of the international brands of our country. We had trust in it and we made it. We will make it again...
İSMAİL KATMERCİ