Ankara Space and Aviation Specialized Organized Industrial Zone (HAB), which was established 12 years ago with the vision of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), continues to grow with new investments.
While all allocations have been completed in the current stages of the region, which spreads over an area of 9.5 million square meters in Kahramankazan district of Ankara, a new expansion project is being carried out in order to meet the increasing production needs.
HAB OSB General Manager Mehmet Nihat Yapıcı explained to the AA correspondent the capacity the region has achieved since its establishment and its new investment targets.
Stating that HAB was established to meet the defense needs of friendly and allied countries as well as Türkiye, Yapıcı emphasized that the region, which operates in 26 different fields, has reached an important position in the defense industry ecosystem.
Yapıcı said:
"Currently, we have 400 participants operating on 9.5 million square meters, and one in every 4 of our personnel in the defense ecosystem works here. Today, we have an employment level of 26 thousand people. This is a very critical level. The allocations in all of our first and second phases have been filled. We continue the expansion works that we started about 1.5 years ago. Since the needs in the existing areas are completely met, we have an expansion area of approximately 422 thousand square meters. Here, we have established the infrastructure and 70 different companies "We are planning to open a new area to operate."
Drawing attention to the increasing needs of the defense industry, Yapıcı pointed to the data announced by SSB President Haluk Görgün regarding the bid capacity of approximately 30 billion dollars by the end of the year.
Yapıcı emphasized that the new production infrastructure created in HAB is important in meeting the growing demands of the sector and enabling companies to operate with more specialized staff.
The target for employment is 40 thousand
Stating that 210 companies have already started production activities in HAB, Yapıcı stated that the facility investments of other participants are continuing.
Yapıcı gave the following information:
"We currently have 400 participants. 210 of these participants have already started production and continue their activities in the fields of defense, space and aviation. Our other companies continue their construction intensively. Currently, approximately 60 of our companies are about to complete their construction. We think that the number of employment will reach 35-40 thousand levels in the near future with the inclusion of these companies in the ecosystem."
Explaining that the transportation infrastructure has been developed in parallel with the growth of the region, Yapıcı announced that a new study has been initiated for freight and passenger transportation with the State Railways.
Yapıcı said, "Within the scope of a new protocol with the State Railways, the infrastructure of a study on freight and passenger transportation has been created. This is very important, especially for our blue and white-collar employees coming to Kahramankazan from Ankara city center. As employment levels increase, transportation infrastructures also need to be improved." he said.
Referring to investments aimed at the needs of a qualified workforce, Yapıcı said that it is planned to bring a vocational high school to the region within the scope of the work carried out with the Ministry of National Education.
Stating that administrative and social facilities have been completed, Yapıcı stated that projects including indoor swimming pools, gyms, tennis courts and recreation areas are also ready.
Digital collaboration between companies
Explaining that they created a digital B2B platform to increase cooperation between companies, Yapıcı summarized HAB's basic approach as follows:
"This is a serious ecosystem and what is actually being tried to achieve when establishing this ecosystem is collaboration. The aim is to provide both logistical advantages and the integration of large platforms by participants and subcontractors in large companies. The pieces come together like a puzzle and are then offered to the service of our Armed Forces and relevant institutions at the platform level."
Stating that the platform is aimed to be put into use soon, Yapıcı stated that employment processes are also supported in the digital environment.
Explaining that job applications made to the region are shared with participating companies via the digital platform, Yapıcı noted that they aim to directly meet the qualified workforce supply with the personnel needs of the companies and contribute to the development of employment capacity in the region.
More than 10 thousand saplings on the Green OSB road
Stating that HAB carries out studies in the field of environmental sustainability as well as industrial investments, Yapıcı said that the region is aimed to receive the Green OIZ certificate.
Informing that they have planted more than 10 thousand saplings in the last two years and that they plan to plant approximately 1000 more saplings, Yapıcı said, "While we are establishing the defense ecosystem on the one hand, we are continuing our work on green areas on the other. We are working hard to qualify HAB as a Green OSB by completing our quality documents and certification processes." he said.
