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The international agreement, which includes the transformation of 19 landlocked logistics centers into 'dry ports,' was approved by the decision of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Thus, Türkiye separated the UN Dry Ports, which was started by the previous United Nations and was seen as a breakthrough. Türkiye can choose to be among these countries in international trade, and with this agreement, it can use 19 logistics centers within the country as dry ports. Thus, exports will be supported, and the trade link between sea and land will be strengthened.
Thanks to the project, the capacity problem of industrialized and ecologically endangered regions will be solved. Thus, dry ports will take the burden of ports with insufficient capacity and make Türkiye the center of trade between Europe, Asia-Pacific, and China. In addition, freight trains originating from Asia-Pacific and China will be able to unload and store at dry ports in Türkiye. This will make Türkiye the center of logistics after energy.
Today, approximately 80 percent of the world's total trade volume is carried out by sea, which is safer and more cost-effective. For this reason, maritime trade and ports are critical. Since Türkiye is surrounded by seas on three sides, it has many logistics centers with high industrialization potential in its vast geography. Therefore, thanks to the agreement, the integration of these centers with maritime transportation will be ensured.
Potential Increases in Customs
Türkiye, a party to the agreement, will also benefit from the cooperation incentives provided by the UN for the development of dry ports in the Asia-Pacific region. The agreement aims to achieve international recognition of dry docks, facilitate investment in dry port infrastructure, increase operational efficiency, and ensure environmental sustainability of transportation.
Another aim of the Dry Port Agreement is to solve the capacity problem of densely populated, industrialized, and ecologically endangered regions in places where coastal port expansion is not possible. Dry ports allow cargo to easily switch from road to rail or sea transportation modes and operate as logistics centers where all transactions, including customs clearance, occur. Moreover, the advantages obtained from this agreement are not just that. Countries with similar logistics centers throughout Asia will have the opportunity to introduce their dry ports to each other. This means introducing Türkiye's 19 logistics centers as 'dry ports.'
Locations of 19 logistics centers in Türkiye
Samsun Gelemen, Ankara Kazan, and Kayseri Boğazküprü were allocated as dry port locations. The places with dry port potential are Bozüyük Bilecik, Gökköy Balıkesir, Habur, Halkalı İstanbul, Hasanbey Eskişehir, Kaklık Denizli, Kars, Kayacık Konya, Köseköy İzmit, Mardin, Palandöken, Erzurum, Sivas, Türkoğlu Kahramanmaraş, Uşak, Yenice Mersin, Yeşilbayır and it is Istanbul.
