Minister Varank visited Jeomed Pharmaceuticals and Health Products Inc., which produces domestic lens solutions in facilities where they conduct high technology, innovation, and sterilization applications in Ankara, in collaboration with OSTIM Technical University and KOSGEB. Ankara Governor Vasip Şahin, AK Party Ankara Deputy and Spokesperson of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Health, Family, Labor, and Social Affairs Committee, Arife Polat Düzgün, and KOSGEB President Hasan Basri Kurt accompanied Minister Varank during the visit.
Receiving information from the Chairman of the Board Süleyman Polat about the company’s ongoing efforts, Varank later examined the production units of the company.
Varank, in his statement to AA correspondent regarding his visit, emphasized that the company has undertaken an important R&D and production project with OSTIM Technical University, stating, ‘They produced domestic and national lens solution here and launched it into the market.’
Stating that lens solutions had been imported from abroad until now, and there was an annual trade deficit of about $120 million in this field, Varank announced that the company has obtained the necessary permits and certificates for the lens solutions it produces.
Varank, thus expressing that those who use lenses in Türkiye now have a domestic and national product, said, ‘We are a government striving for development through production in Türkiye. We particularly emphasize the importance of developing products with local and national capabilities, especially for products with added value and for which we have a trade deficit. This company has produced this product within the framework of university-industry collaboration, receiving various support and incentives from our state, especially from KOSGEB.’
“Call for health and chemical products”
Referring to the Technology-Oriented Industrial Move Program they initiated, Varank stated:
“We support all processes from R&D to commercialization of products for which we have a trade deficit in the chemicals and pharmaceutical industry, determining the product groups we support our companies with. In the coming period, within the scope of the move program, we will issue a call and support our companies in projects related to products and drugs that are not produced in Türkiye.”
Varank expressed that it is gratifying that Jeomed, with the support it received from KOSGEB, has produced lens solutions that were causing a trade deficit in Türkiye, stating that they will support localization efforts in all sectors.
“1 million boxes of export within a year is our goal”
Chairman Polat of the company said that in the early years of Jeomed, they imported health products, and later, they established their own production facilities because they could not find the products, they produced for pharmaceutical companies in the quality they wanted.
Polat said, “Because we aimed for our products to be effective against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, as well as containing Türkiye’s natural richness, thermal waters. When we couldn’t achieve this in any producer, we set up our own kitchen.”
Pointing out Türkiye’s geothermal resource richness, Polat said, “We have always used geothermal water in our products. Our health products, which are rich in sulfur, vitamins, and minerals, were strengthened with tea tree oil, and extraordinary shampoos, soaps, creams, and lotions emerged.”
Stating that shampoos generally contain harmful active ingredients, Polat said that their products do not contain them, so they can be used safely.
Indicating that they started selling their patented products to the world by participating in congresses and international fairs abroad, Polat said, “Because users provide positive feedback. In this way, our export volume has been formed to 51 countries, including Greece, the USA, Russia, India, and Ecuador. With the lens solution we produce, we will also increase our export volume. Our goal is to export 6 million boxes of lens solution within a year.”
Polat, pointing out that Türkiye has a significant trade deficit in health products, emphasized, “Let’s trust our domestic products and support our local companies. As local companies win, we will invest, open new factories, and buy new machines. By employing many unemployed people, we will contribute to the development of our country. If we produce high-value-added products, we can win.”
AA]
