Serbest bölgelerin yer seçim süreçleri üzerine bir araştırma: Mersin Serbest Bölgesi örneği
A research on location selection processes of free zones: The example of Mersin Free Zone
Yazar: DİLAN MAKAL
Danışman: DOÇ. DR. MEHMET ALİ YÜZER
İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi / Lisansüstü Eğitim Enstitüsü / Şehir ve Bölge Planlama Ana Bilim Dalı / Bölge Planlama Bilim Dalı
Derece: Yüksek Lisans, 2024
Konu: Şehircilik ve Bölge Planlama = Urban and Regional Planning

Özet:
Dünya ülkelerinin dış ticaret işlemlerinin büyük bir çoğunluğu, bugün sayıları 5000'i aşan serbest bölgeler aracılığıyla gerçekleştirilmektedir. Özellikle 1980'li yıllardan sonra etkilerini göstermeye başlayan küreselleşme süreci, uluslararası sınırların şeffaflaşması, yoğun ticari ilişkilerin kurulması, ülkeler arasındaki ticaret duvarlarının yıkılması ve dolayısıyla rekabetin artması gibi durumları da beraberinde getirmiştir. Bu faktörlere dünya kaynaklarının giderek artan kıtlığı da eklenince alternatif kalkınma yolları arayışı önem kazanmaya başlamış; serbest bölgeler de bu süreçte birer çözüm aracı olarak öne çıkmıştır. Yabancı yatırımları ülkelere çekeceği, teknoloji transferini sağlayacağı, uluslararası pazarda ticari rekabeti kolaylaştıracağı varsayılarak serbest bölgelere kuruldukları bölgelere avantaj sağlama, ülkenin kalkınmasına öncülük etme gibi stratejik roller yüklenmiştir. Modern anlamda kurulan ilk serbest bölgenin başarıya ulaşması ise hızla dünya çapında yayılma süreçlerini başlatmıştır.
Az gelişmiş bölgeler için kalkınma aracı olması beklenen ve yeni ekonomik üsler olarak nitelendirilen bu alanların özellikle son 20 yıldaki popülerliği akademi alanına da yansımış; bölgeleri farklı kapsam ve bakış açılarıyla inceleyen birçok çalışma tamamlanmıştır. Çalışmalar detaylı olarak incelendiğinde ise yer seçimi başlığı üzerinde yeterince durulmadığı anlaşılmıştır. Oysa ekonomik faydaları ancak uzun vadede gözlenebilen bu bölgelerin beklenen verimi sağlayabilmesi için en temel faktör, doğru yer seçimidir. Bu çalışma ile serbest bölgelerin yer seçim süreçleri, süreci yönlendiren kriterler, kriterlerin öncelik durumu, bölgelere veya ülkelere göre farklılık gösterip göstermediği, elde edilen kriterler ile bölgedeki firmaların alanı tercih etme nedenleri arasında ilişki incelenmeye çalışılmıştır. 
Bu kapsamda Çin, Güney Kore, ABD ve daha birçok başarılı dünya ülkesinde kurulan bölgelerin yer seçimi sürecini araştıran çalışmalar ve Dünya Bankası, OECD ve UNCTAD gibi kurumların raporları detaylı bir şekilde incelenmiş; yapılan incelemeler sonucunda 8 ana kriterin (Doğal Kaynaklar Konum, Ulaşım Bağlantılar, İnsan Kaynakları, Altyapı ve Tesisler, Teşvik ve Politikalar, Endüstriyel Uygunluk, Pazar Yönelimi ve Erişimi, Çevresel Sürdürülebilirlik Durumu) ve bir dizi alt kriterin, serbest bölgelerin yer seçiminde yönlendirici etki gösterdiği belirlenmiştir. Tespit edilen kriterler doğrultusunda ise Türkiye'de kurulan ilk serbest bölge olan Mersin Serbest Bölgesi'ndeki 60 firma ile derinlemesine odak grup görüşmeleri gerçekleştirilmiştir. Yer seçim sürecinde etkili kriterlerden biri olan Çevresel Sürdürülebilirlik kriteri, firma tercihleriyle ilişkili olmadığı için görüşme kapsamındaki sorulara dahil edilmemiştir. Görüşme sonuçları; firmalara, üretim sürecine ve faaliyetine, bölgeye ve yer seçimine yönelik bulgular şeklinde detaylı olarak aktarılmıştır. Yapılan literatür incelemesinden ve görüşmelerinden anlaşıldığı üzere; Teşvik Politikalar, Ulaşım Bağlantıları, Doğal Kaynaklar, Pazar Yönelimi ve İnsan Kaynakları kriterleri, bölgelerin yer seçim sürecinde de firmaların alan tercihlerinde de yönlendirici etkiye sahiptir. Bölge yer seçiminde en önemli kriter olarak ön plana çıkan Teşvik ve Politikalar kriteri, firmaların bölgeyi tercih etme nedenleri arasında da ilk sırada yer almaktadır. Genel sonuç bu yönde olmakla birlikte sektör bazında farklılaşmalar da gözlenmiştir. Altyapı Hizmetleri ve Tesisleri kriterinin ise hem serbest bölge yer seçim sürecinde hem de firmaların alan tercihlerinde en düşük etkiye sahip kriter olduğu anlaşılmıştır. Bulgular serbest bölgelerin yer seçim sürecinin diğer endüstriyel kullanımların yer seçim sürecinden farklılaşma eğiliminde olduğu, bu nedenle de bölgelere özgü sistemlerin geliştirilebileceği yönündedir.

Abstract:
The concept of trade, which is at the center of country economies, has a history that can be considered at least as deep as human history. It emerged with the need to meet people's basic needs and has continued its existence since the early times when social relations began to be established. The act of trade, which started with barter, has evolved into a more comprehensive structure as a result of the changes it has undergone over time. Although the position of trade in the world of the 21st century is indisputable, the benefits that can be obtained from trade have been a matter of curiosity throughout history, and more advantageous systems have always been developed. "Free Zones" emerged as a result of these searches. Although their starting point is to benefit from trade in the most efficient way, their current popularity stems from the effects of the globalization process. The globalization process, which started to show its effect especially after the 1980s, brought about situations such as the transparency of international borders, the establishment of intensive commercial relations, the demolition of commercial walls between countries and therefore the increase in competition.
When the increasing problem of scarcity of world resources is added to these factors, the search for alternative development paths has become inevitable. Free zones have also come to the agenda again as a solution tool in this process. Considering that they will enable national economies to adapt to the global economy, attract foreign investments to the countries where they are established, ensure technology transfer, and facilitate commercial competitiveness in the international market, strategic roles have been assigned to "Free Zones" such as providing an advantage to the regions where they are established and leading the development of the region in which they are located.
Success in the Shanon Free Zone, the first free zone, and later in some free zones such as Panama, Taiwan and South Korea, accelerated their adoption and spread in other regions. This situation is also reflected in academic studies. Especially in the last 20 years, many studies have been completed examining free zones in detail from economic and social aspects. When we look at the studies on free zones, it is seen that they are frequently discussed from a broad perspective under different headings, but the location selection process of these zones and the criteria affecting the location selection are not sufficiently focused on. However, the most fundamental factor in ensuring the expected effectiveness of these regions, whose economic benefits can only be observed in the long term, is the correct location selection of the region. More than 3000 free zones have been established worldwide, 3 of which have been closed in Turkey, but a total of 21 free zones have been established, but when we look at the regions and the studies examining these zones, it is seen that there are no generally accepted and defined free zone site selection criteria. In this study, it was wondered what criteria the location selection of free zones was based on and whether the priority status of the criteria varies according to regions or countries; The research question was determined as to what differences there are between the criteria obtained from the literature and the criteria in current applications. Within the scope of the study, studies investigating the site selection process of regions established in China, South Korea, the USA and many other successful world countries, and reports of institutions such as the World Bank, OECD and UNCTAD were examined in detail; As a result of the investigations, 8 criteria (Natural Resources/Location, Transportation/Connections, Human Resources, Infrastructure and Facilities, Incentives and Policies, Industrial Suitability, Market Orientation and Access, Environmental Sustainability Status) and a number of sub-factors that basically affect the location selection of free zones were determined. In line with the determined criteria, in-depth focus group discussions were held with 60 companies in Mersin Free Zone, the first free zone established in Turkey. Environmental Sustainability criterion, which is one of the effective criteria in the location selection process, was not included in the questions within the scope of the interview because it was not related to company preferences. Interview results; The findings regarding the companies, production process and activity, region and location selection are explained in detail. In the findings regarding site selection, which is the final evaluation of the study; It has been understood that the existing advantages are compatible with the reasons why companies prefer to be located in the region. The first place in companies' location selection preferences is the Incentives and Policies criterion. This situation supports the literature findings. The Incentives and Policies criterion appears to be the most effective factor in both location selection preferences and companies' choice of area. According to the findings obtained from the interviews, the order of importance of the companies' preferences is;
• Incentives and Policies
• Transportation Facilities
• Suitability of the Settlement Area
• Market Orientation
• Industrial Situation
• Labor
• It is in the form of Infrastructure and Facilities.
Although the general priority order is as follows, the order of priorities may vary depending on the type of sectoral activity. For example Food Contrary to the general situation in the sector, Transportation Facilities come to the fore as the first important criterion. Workforce and Market Orientation are at the forefront in order of importance in the Textile industry. Although the Industrial Suitability criterion has a more limited effect on the location selection process of free zones, it appears to be a more effective factor in companies choosing the region. The importance of the criteria shows progress or decline depending on the sectors. This situation suggests that creating a planning process based on the demands and requirements of the companies and sectors in the areas where the zones will be established for the location selection of free zones may be effective in establishing more successful and sustainable zones. Although the criteria vary significantly according to sectors, the results and literature findings in the field are compatible in many points. In summary, as understood from the literature review and interviews; Incentives and Policies, Transportation Links, Natural Resources, Market Orientation and Human Resources criteria have a guiding effect on the location selection process of the regions and the field preferences of the companies. The Incentives and Policies criterion, which stands out as the most important criterion in region location selection, is also among the first reasons why companies prefer the region. Although the general result is in this direction, differences have also been observed on a sector basis. It has been understood that the Infrastructure Services and Facilities criterion has the lowest impact both on the free zone site selection process and on the site preferences of companies. The findings indicate that the site selection process of free zones tends to differ from the site selection process of other industrial uses, and therefore zone-specific systems can be developed.
Although the impact of location selection is indisputable in all positive and negative situations experienced by free zones today, the issue of to what extent free zones can achieve the effects expected from them should also be discussed under a separate heading. Because, according to another finding from the study: labor-intensive sectors are mostly located in the regions expected to create innovation (the use of technology cannot go beyond technological developments in machinery equipment); There is no commercial relationship between the regions that are expected to contribute to the local economy of the province in which they are located. Examining these issues in detail may contribute to a more accurate evaluation of the purposes and scope of free zones and their position within development policies. With this study, it was tried to determine the basic criteria affecting the site selection process and to convey the general situation of Mersin Free Zone. The site selection process was examined from a holistic framework and its outputs were conveyed. In addition to all the findings, the space problem experienced in the region today, the current infrastructure and facilities not being compatible with the sectors, the expansion of the Port putting pressure on the free zone, etc. It should not be overlooked that the problems are a reflection of the criteria that were ignored and not discussed in detail during the site selection process. It has been clearly understood that the most effective factor in a successful free zone development process is the right location selection.