The foundation of the facility, which is going to be the largest and most developed plant in our geography, was laid with a ceremony that participated by Hüseyin Özgürgün, the Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Upon the completition of the manufacturing facility, the first 1000 domestic cars of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will be produced within a year under the trademark GÜNSEL. As the automotive industry continues to be one of the most important industries across the world, the facility will contribute to our country's economy by carrying out fully integrated operations including research, development, design, engineering and manufacturing operations. The facility will create not only employment opportunities for our people but also additional jobs in other industries across the country.
According to the press release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations Office of the Near East University, the ground breaking ceremony was realized with the participation of TRNC Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün, Public works and Transportation Minister Kemal Dürüst, Economy and Energy Minister Sunat Atun, Health Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu, MPs, Fikri Toros, Chairman of Chamber of Commerce, Ali Çıralı, Chairman of Chamber of Industry, NEU Founding Rector Dr. Suat İ. Günsel, NEU Board of Trustees Chairman Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan S. Günsel, rectors and vice rectors of the Near East University and the University of Kyrenia, representatives of the automotive industry, invitees from Turkish auto and industry sectors, guests and citizens.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. İ. Günsel: “The history will witness that as a nation, we have achieved what is considered impossible”
Addressing to the participants at the groundbreaking ceremony, Near East University Board of Trustees Chairman Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan Günsel underlined that they were experiencing one of the historic moments as the facility would pave the way for the country towards a new era by contributing to the vision, economy and the future of country.
Touching upon the significance of actualizing such a historic moment that constitutes the milestone of a journey that they covered towards making a dream true by seeding and sprouting the ideas that rooted years ago and blending them with determination and imagination, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Günsel shared his feelings and proud: “The history will note down December 16, 2016, not only as the date of the groundbreaking ceremony of the manufacturing facilities, but also as the date how a nation’s hardworking people and institutions have achieved what is considered impossible” said he. Reminding that children at school age make their toys with wet clay, Assoc.
Prof. Dr. İ. Günsel continued his remarks: “Our children learn the history, and while creating the products of their imaginations out of wet mud or clay, they shape the present and future of a country. Through 8 year lasting hard and intensive work, we, as Near East Family, are feeling the pride of turning a 50-year-dream that found shape with wet mud into reality by laying this foundation into a piece of wet land”.
Indicating that they, as the Günsel family, created a national dream that would forward the country towards a better future in terms of economy and technology, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Günsel highlighted their commitment to taking this dream firmly. “From the moment that the ambition of producing the first domestic car sparked in our hearts, we have kept this spark burning by working much harder, following technology and overcoming all barriers. Fortunately, today, along with you, we are making this dream true successfully. With a great pride, we are realizing the groundbreaking ceremony of the facilities where 1000 electric automobiles will be manufactured within a year following its completition. We are experiencing the happiness of accomplishing another of our goals by laying the foundations of these manufacturing facilities that will be talked about and admired enviously not only in TRNC but also in Turkey and across the world. Our GÜNSEL brand automobile is a concrete example of a great dream, an intense labor; a high faith and desire that extending to success. We are fully aware that this step, which will forward us towards higher peaks with GÜNSEL manufacturing facilities, is also an awesome push towards making TRNC a country that manufactures, develops and exports automotive technologies. We have proven so far that we can achieve many accomplishments that make a sound at international platforms. Everyone will wait in curiosity to see what we can do. For the future of our country and our young generations, this is a very important issue that requires acting in national consciousness, and attaching importance on innovation” said he
GÜNSEL Manufacturing facilities will contribute to the country’s industry, economy and technological development
Underlining their commitment in continuing to work with all their might and produce to ensure a sustainable development for the country in today’s era where development is impossible for societies that do not produce science, do not adopt innovation as a culture and do not keep up with technological advances, Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan Günsel emphasized that GÜNSEL manufacturing facilities would provide great contribution to the basic industry, economy, technological development and strong reputation of the country. Touching upon the significance of progressing with concrete steps towards becoming a world brand based on domestic investment, Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan Günsel noted that mass production of GÜNSEL would begin upon the completition of the manufacturing facilities and we would be proud of seeing it on our country’s roads. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Günsel also praised the devoted efforts that exerted by NEU Innovation and Information Technologies Center and R&D teams along with the Department of Automotive Engineering to produce TRNC’s first domestic car, GÜNSEL. He also provided information regarding the technological specifications of GÜNSEL. He put an end to his remarks by wishing that the facilities would be beneficial to Near East family, our country; its rapidly growing economy, automotive industry and our society.
Fikri Toros: “Near East University paves the way for our country to create the high image that it deserves”……
Highlighting the crucial role of economical development, rivalry and compliance with world standards for globalization, Fikri Toros, the Chairman of Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce, expressed his ideas regarding the issue: “The project that designed within the frame of this vision will facilitate the development of our economy and provide our people with new job opportunities. With this project, we will have environmentally friendly, energy efficient and zero emission electric cars in our daily lives. I would like to take this opportunity and extend my appreciations to everyone that contributed to the project. I also congratulate the Günsel Family for representing our country proudly both in the motherland Turkey and all around the globe”.
Ali Çıralı: “The revolutionary facility goes beyond the ordinary....”
Stating that the groundbreaking ceremony has gone beyond the ordinary remarks claiming the impossibility of production and industry in small island economies, Ali Çıralı, the Chairman of Chamber of Industry, delivered information regarding the economies in small islands and expressed his ideas: “This revolutionary facility will go beyond the ordinary remarks by proving them wrong. When we have a close insight at the island economies like ours, we can easily see that they carry out both production and export activities. I would like to emphasize that as the Chamber of Industry, we are ready to provide all kinds of support to the Günsel family who has set it as a mission to become a world brand”.
Sunat Atun: We will contribute to the country’s economy by exporting our own technology across the world
Addressing to the participants at the ceremony, Sunat Atun, Minister of Economy and Energy, underlined that TRNC had become a country taking strong steps with Günsel to stand on its own feet. “GÜNSEL, TRNC’s first domestic car that exhibited at MUSIAD EXPO 2016 in Istanbul, will be mass-produced in the facility which will contribute to the country’s economy by producing, developing and exporting automobiles and automobile technologies. The automotive industry is a critical component of economic growth. The industry directly employs many people engaged in designing, engineering, manufacturing, and supplying parts and components to assemble, to sell and service. To this end, I would like to extend my appreciations to the Günsel family for their investing in such an outstanding facility which will add great value to our country's economy and image”.
3rd President Eroğlu: “Günsel family continues to contribute to the country's economy and employment by making their never ending dreams true”
Mr. Derviş Eroğlu, the third President of TRNC, delivered a speech at the ceremony and expressed his views regarding the issue: “Nothing is impossible as long as you dream it. The only thing that you need to do is to cover concrete steps towards actualizing it without giving up. The person with big dreams is more powerful than the one with all facts. The Günsels dream big and take concrete steps to actualize their dreams. Today, we are witnessing how a big dream is coming true once again. Günsel family with a great commitment continues to make their big dreams true in order to contribute to the country's economy and development. I would like to congratulate them in recognition of their contribution to ensure a sustainable economy and development for our country".
Prime Minister Özgürgün: Near East Family brings prestige to our country via each investment”
Highlighting that they were experiencing the excitement and happiness of witnessing another success of Günsel family, who has spread the wings of imagination towards opening new horizons in order to build up the future of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, TRNC Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün drew attention to the significance of the event: “Near East Family has proven that they contribute to the country’s economy and bring prestige to our country with each of their projects. While laying the foundation of the facility to manufacture electric cars that considered as the cars of future, I wish all the best for GÜNSEL that designed as energy efficient, zero emission, and environmentally friendly car.
Congratulatory message from Lieutenant General Paç and Major General Yıldırım ...
Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces Commander Lieutenant General Ömer Paç and Security Forces Commander Major General Yılmaz Yıldırım and Selami Baytekin, Chairman of the Association for Near East Graduates, sent congratulatory messages to express their joys and good wishes regarding the issue.
Following the speeches, the groundbreaking ceremony was realized. Prime Minister Özgürgün, ministers, Near East University Founding Rector Dr. Suat Günsel and NEU Board of Trustees Chairman Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan Günsel pressed the push button all together and poured the first concrete grout into the excavation area.
Designed to be situated on an area of 20 thousand square meters, the Techno-Park will provide hundreds of people with employment opportunity…
With an innovative approach, GÜNSEL manufacturing facilities will integrate of all its automotive processes including research, development, design, engineering, manufacturing and marketing. The facilities will be situated on an area of 20 thousand square meters, with a total indoor-area of 15 thousand square meters. The facilities that will benefit from composite and aluminum production technologies will also provide employment opportunity for hundreds of people.