Erkport, which has been operating in the maritime transportation and port services sector in Izmir since 2013, signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Yantai Port Group to start a new era in maritime transportation from China to Istanbul. Within the scope of the “Two Ports, One Road” Agreement, finished vehicle logistics, construction equipment, project cargo and Ro-Ro transportation will be carried out between China’s Yantai Port and Haydarpaşa Port.

With the “Two Ports One Road” project, which will make a significant regional contribution to Turkish ports, Mediterranean and Black Sea ports by turning Haydarpaşa Port into a transfer port, Istanbul will become a logistics base between Europe, Africa and the Far East. With the project, 100 thousand passenger vehicles will be transported annually, under the signature of Erkport, through Yantai Port, which is the main transfer center of Korean, Japanese and Australian ports, while construction equipment and commercial vehicles will be transported to developing markets. While the project is aimed to accelerate automotive exports, it will also ensure that the raw material needs of businesses are more easily supplied.

Istanbul now acts as a bridge between Europe and the Far East
Erkport Port Chairman of the Board Tolga Emrah Gezgin, who came together with China’s Shandong Province Deputy Governor Song Junji, Yantai Port Group General Manager Jiang Kai and Erkport China Representatives, said, “The cargo and containers we bring from Japan and Korea through Yantai Port are delivered to Haydarpaşa Port. We deliver it to , and from there to the entire Black Sea region, North African and Eastern Mediterranean ports. We provide transportation services to Romania and Georgia’s port city Poti via Haydarpaşa Port via feeder ships that undertake transportation duties. With the Two Ports, One Road project, Istanbul is no longer just a bridge between Asia and Europe; it is also a bridge between Europe and the Far East. A historical rapprochement has begun between China and Türkiye in economic terms, and as Erkport, we are happy to be leading this. China sees Türkiye as an important location in terms of production activities, and this step is actually a big move to strengthen the logistics infrastructure between the two countries. As Erkport, we were one of the architects of this move. We create a speed advantage for our customers by using the Suez Canal and are one of the few carriers that cross the Red Sea. Of course, this means cost advantage and speed for our customers.”

Turkish market will become interesting for Chinese investors
Stating that Türkiye is a major importing country and that its logistics infrastructure attracts the attention of new investors in China, Yantai Port Group General Manager Jiang Kai said, “As our relations with Turkey grow stronger day by day, this cooperation is extremely important for us.” It was a step. The start of regular line transportation between the ports of China and Türkiye and the strengthening of the logistics infrastructure will further strengthen our commercial ties, contribute to the growth of the economies of both countries and make the Turkish market interesting for Chinese investors. The facilitation and acceleration of transit transportation processes will increase the global trade volume.”