"We Are Researching Markets for the Export of Our Products" – INTERVIEW

The famous Azerbaijani brand of construction chemicals mr.fix® started production as a local brand in 2003 and is actively operating in this field. In general, the company's entrepreneurs have been engaged in business activities in Azerbaijan for more than 20 years. Necmeddin Taşbag, the head of Kartaş LTD LLC, to which mr.fix® belongs, answers the questions of "İş Dünyamiz" regarding the company's activities.

- Necmeddin bey, how did you start production in Azerbaijan?

- Since we have been in this field for a long time, we saw the needs and demands well. That is why we decided to go ahead and create a local construction materials brand. Knowing that there is a lot of work to be done in this field in the local market, we set out on this path, and for 15 years, the mr.fix® brand has been maintaining its superiority in the field of construction materials with its rich experience with the principle of "always the best".

- What products does your company produce?

- The field of construction materials has a very rich assortment. The construction chemicals produced by our company are also a branch of this field. Among our product groups, I can mention adhesives, intermediate fillers, repair materials, thermal and waterproofing products, and chemical concrete additives for the ready-mix concrete industry.

- What new products do you plan to launch on the market?

- As the Mr.Fix brand, we always take into account the local market's need for new products. Currently, we are working to launch our new products on the market. We presented some of these products at the Construction Fair held in October. One of these, bitumen-based waterproofing products, is a high-tech modified product that can be used on the floors, internal balconies and roofs of buildings. At the same time, we are developing our existing products to meet different needs.

- What place does mr.fix® occupy in the Azerbaijani market?

- The construction sector is one of the most developing and vibrant sectors in Azerbaijan. The mr.fix® construction chemicals brand occupies an important position in the construction materials sector as a result of the importance it places on quality. Recently, the activity of both local and foreign brands in the construction materials sector has been increasing. As in every sector, there can be no development without competition in this sector. Therefore, as a brand, we approach competition not on a daily basis, but with principles calculated for the future. Since the day we started our activities, we have always worked to bring demanded products to the market and promote the importance of local products, and increase the trust and confidence in them as mr.fix®.

- What is the current level of demand for your products, and for the products of the sector in general?

- Although there has been a slight slowdown in the construction sector for the past few years, demand is currently increasing. Starting from this year, we predict that demand will increase even more. People need new apartments, but at the same time, there are many buildings that have reached the end of their service life, which need to be renovated. The state has made a decision to carry out work in this direction and pilot projects are being implemented. Such factors will increase the demand for construction materials in the market.

- The current policy of the government is to meet the needs of the domestic market with local production. What steps do you think should be taken for this?

- First of all, it should be determined what can be produced with local capabilities to meet the needs that depend on imports. Then, special incentives can be provided by the state to entrepreneurs in this field. For example, import duties on raw materials can be eased. In addition, it is very important to improve the legal basis for investments and continue the currently implemented reforms in order to meet the needs of the domestic market with local production.

- One of the main problems of businessmen working in some fields is the presence of low-quality, non-standard and non-original products on the market. Does your company encounter such situations and feel its effects?

- There are legally valid norms and standards in Azerbaijan, which every manufacturing company must take a place in the market with products that comply with them. Our company is managed by the ISO 9001 quality management system, AZS standards are applied to our products, and at the same time, we also take into account the requirements of European standards. Of course, there are many products on the market that do not meet the standards. This also leads to unfair competition. Quality is not only the responsibility of companies, but also the responsibility of the institutions that approve and inspect it. The variety of products produced and consumed in our country is very rich and is increasing. Therefore, the institutions that apply and inspect these standards need to adapt more quickly to the norms and standards applied in the world so that both the accepted standards can be applied more easily and goods that do not comply with these norms can be inspected on the market.

- Another important direction is to achieve foreign exports. 

What activities and plans do you have in this regard?

- Of course, our current position in the local market gives us reason to say that the mr.fix® brand is fully ready to expand its activities in the foreign market. We have even had similar experiences from time to time. Currently, our action plans in this direction continue. We are working on potential markets for our products in export demand.

- Currently, steps are being taken to improve the conditions and business environment created for entrepreneurs in the country. Does your company feel the results of these steps?

- As a result of the reforms consistently implemented in Azerbaijan by Mr. President Ilham Aliyev in recent years, successful results have been achieved in all directions. A number of important steps have also been taken in the direction of the development of entrepreneurship, which has created real conditions for a more favorable healthy business environment. Of course, like all entrepreneurs, we also feel the positive results of these reforms. The reforms carried out in the customs sector and currently ongoing in other areas have been positively received by all entrepreneurs. These reforms not only prevent unfair competition but also create a healthier business environment. This creates the basis for us to further expand our work and inspires us even more.