Turkish packaging major Sarten to set up factory in Qatar

Leading Turkish packaging company — Sarten group — is set to expand its operations in Qatar, which will include setting up a factory to provide packaging solutions to Qatar’s rapidly expanding manufacturing sector, especially the fast moving consumer goods producers, revealed a prominent Turkish business leader.

Sarten is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of metal containers for a variety of industries including canned foods, cooking oil, aerosols, pesticides, engine oils, paints, and others. The company is the leader in Turkey and has operations in several countries, including Netherlands, Russia, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria.

“Bilateral economic cooperation between Qatar and Turkey is growing fast and steadily in a wide-range of sectors. More and more Qatari and Turkish companies are exchanging visits, exploring opportunities and establishing partnerships with the aim to take the economic cooperation to new heights,” Chairman of Istanbul Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters’ Association (IDDMIB) Tahsin Öztiryaki told The Peninsula on the sidelines of an event, yesterday.

Öztiryaki, who is here leading a trade delegation comprising of some 20 prominent Turkish metal companies, added: “Turkey is very big economy with diversified industries. Today we are here representing the metal sector, the next visit is likely to be kitchen equipment manufacturers and suppliers, which will be followed by packaging industries as Qatar is ramping up its production and establishing ‘Brand Qatar’ in the international market, which will require packaging solutions in plastic, metal and paper.” “As Qatari companies are producing a lot of dairy products, juice and other food stuff, there is a growing demand for packaging products and services. Sarten group, which is the third largest in the world in terms of providing packaging solutions, is going to set up a factory in Qatar because importing packing stuff from overseas is not cost efficient”, he said.

Commenting about the yesterday’s B2B meeting of Turkish delegates with local companies, Öztiryaki, said that these companies representing steel and non-steel exporters group that manufacture a wide range of products such as aluminum cables, sheets, hand tools such as shovels, spades, wheelbarrows, hinges, metal pipes, façade system, welding products and hundreds of other metal products and items that find use in the construction industry.

“They are receiving good response from the local companies. We are aware about the robust demand for such items, especially from the vibrant construction sector, which is implementing projects worth about $200bn in the run-up to the preparations for 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2030 long term vision. These companies are not here only to sell their products, but some them also intend to form joint ventures and set up factories in Qatar,” he added.

“We are very optimistic about this meeting. We hope that it’s going to be fruitful as some 90 local companies, including representatives from Qatar Petroleum, Qatar Steel, and Doha-based Turkish companies (with extensive operation in Qatar’s construction sector), are going to participate in the B2B meetings.” Asked about Turkish companies’ interest of in investing Qatar’s free zones, Öztiryaki said that senior officials from Qatar Free Zones Authority are expected to make presentations at the meeting about the various opportunities in Qatar.

“Since Qatar and Turkey enjoy strong political ties, we hope that economic relations will also strengthen further with time as there is a great potential to enhance the bilateral trade volume and expanding cooperation in new areas. And we are very upbeat about it.”