Berko Pharmaceuticals, a strong brand in the pharmaceutical industry that continues to produce and work for human health with the vision of "For Healty Tomorrows" for more than thirty years, held the opening ceremony of the third phase of its manufacturing facility in Sultanbeyli on Saturday, 17 November.
Berko Pharmaceuticals, one of Turkey's leading pharmaceutical companies, cut the ribbon for the third phase of its manufacturing facility. With this phase put into service, it is aimed to accelerate the localisation steps in the pharmaceutical sector. In the R&D center approved by the Ministry of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Turkey, great contributions will be made to the national pharmaceutical mobilisation.
The opening ceremony of the third phase of Berko Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing facility in Sultanbeyli, Istanbul was held with the participation of important figures such as Prof Dr Necdet Ünüvar, Member of the Presidential Health and Food Policies Board and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of İVEK Foundation; Dr Mustafa Kuruca, Former Vice President of SSI and Member of the Board of Trustees of İVEK Foundation; Pharm. Mehmet Domaç, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of İVEK Foundation; Cengiz Celayir, President of the Turkish Pharmaceutical Industry Association; Dr Hakkı Gürsöz, President of the Turkish Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency; and Metin Kubilay, District Governor of Sultanbeyli.
A call for support for the national medicine was made
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Prof Dr Necdet Ünüvar, Member of the Health and Food Policies Board of the Presidency, emphasised that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attaches great importance to and supports the pharmaceutical and health sector, and said: "At the opening ceremony of a university in Ankara last week, our President emphasised that he attaches great importance to the domestic and national move in pharmaceutical and medical devices, and called on all institutions, universities and bureaucracy to support it without any excuse. Today, Berko Pharmaceuticals is commissioning a very important facilityin Sultanbeyli. This is an area that will make a very serious contribution to both the health sector, employment and our country's exports. It is also an important initiative that will increase the satisfaction of our citizens with health services. I wholeheartedly congratulate Berat Beran."
Support should be given to our local pharmaceutical industry
Berko Pharmaceuticals Chairman of the Board Pharm. Berat Beran, who said that in order for the pharmaceutical industry to come to a place in Turkey, the domestic pharmaceutical industry must be empowered, said: "I sell products to many countries of the world with my own efforts. I go to the USA, Canada and Hong Kong, but this is not enough. Turkey's pharmaceutical industry should now establish factories in world countries and destinations such as Africa."
Today we have a pharmaceutical industry to be proud of
Beran said that the domestic industry was priced very well in Turkey after 1980 and added: "Our domestic industry really invested that money in industry. Today, we have a pharmaceutical industry that we can be proud of. For this reason, our state should have a privileged approach to the industry. They should recognise and see us. In my life, I have never done any business or made any investment other than pharma. All I have is these three buildings. I do not have a life according to my income level. Today here are my childhood friends, my greatest friends, my journeyman and his son who have known me since the past and have been struggling with me in my pharmacy. They are my greatest friends. They know best what I have suffered, they say to me; 'Mr Berat, you have finally succeeded', I have succeeded, but we still have a long way to go."
The products to be produced in the facility will be exported to the world market
Dr Hakkı Gürsöz, President of the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency, said that the site will make a significant contribution to the pharmaceutical production capacity in Turkey and added: "The share of manufactured products produced in our country will increase with the products produced here. We hope that another important step will be at the point of export. The products to be produced in the facilitywill be exported to the world market. This company is a company that acts with an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit. I believe that many new products will come to life here and will be offered to the benefit of our people here. This factory, which is an important investment on behalf of both Turkey and the company, will be auspicious for all of us."
With the commissioning of the third phase of the facility, Berko Pharmaceuticals has reached an annual production capacity of 142 million boxes. Berko Pharmaceuticals, a strong player in the Turkish pharmaceutical market, exports to 14 countries, mainly to the USA and Canada, with the vision of becoming a global brand. It is aimed to increase production, employment and exports with this phase put into service.