We Conducted a Pleasant Interview with Mr. Bülent Konca
We had a pleasant interview with Vice President of MG International Fragrance Company Bülent Konca. Bülent Konca also talked about the sectors they addressed to us, R&D studies and the company’s social responsibility projects. Happy reading.
Could you tell our readers about yourself and your background?
I was born in 1977 in Istanbul. I graduated from the Department of Business Administration at Kocaeli University. I started my business life in 1998 at the same time as
my university education. After working as Deputy Finance Manager at Kobra Defence Technologies between 2001 and 2002, our paths crossed with Gülçiçek Family. After
working as Sales Representative and Director of Sales and Marketing at MG International Fragrance Company, I have been working as Deputy General Manager of Sales and Marketing.
Today as it was in the past, I continue to take active duties in the sectoral NGOs for our industry’s development. I continue my duty as Aerosol Industrialists’ Association (ASAD) Supervisory Board Member, Cosmetic Manufacturers and Researchers Association (KÜAD) Vice President, and Private Label Products Industrialists and Suppliers Association (PLAT) and Gebze Chamber of Commerce Professional Committee Member.
What would you like to tell us about your firm? What are the criterias of your success policy?
As MG International, we determine our business policy through combining our deep-rooted history with our industrial experience by bringing high-quality manufacturing, reliable and sustainable business models, and new technologies together. Our human and environment-oriented approach reflects on our customers whom we call business partners. We continue to work as a big family from the past to the future, and when we present the whole of
our corporate policy joined with our high capacity of manufacturing, this enables us to walk confidently towards the future with our socially responsible identity.
Which industries do you cater to? What are your product types?
Since its establishment as an international fragrance manufacturing company in 1961, MG International Fragrance Company has been a well-established organization with a pioneering identity in the industry with its innovation capacity in manufacturing and its environment and human-friendly approach.
Today, we supply fragrance and fragrance ingredients to more than 55 countries and
more than 2,000 manufacturers in Turkey and abroad. Our company, among the largest top 650 industrial companies of Turkey, manufactures over 200 thousand fragrance formulations and 280 different ingredients, by using more than 4,500 raw materials.
We are working with well-known brands in Turkey and abroad operating at the cosmetics,
personal care, hygiene, household cleaning, and tissue product groups with our fragrances and fragrance ingredients.
Last year, the effects of the global pandemic were felt intensely and these effects still continue. How were your firm effected and which measures did you take?
The pandemic process which had a negative impact on the world in 2020 maintained its effect also in the last year. Nonetheless, last year also saw growth in Turkey’s economy and the chemical industry. The end of restrictions and shutdowns allowed the economy to return to its normal course.
With the transitioning to the new-normal flow of life, shopping habits began to return to their old order. The realization of sectoral fair organizations all over the world under physical conditions has created the opportunity to meet our business partners and new potential market customers in person. While the chemicals and cosmetics industry grew in accordance with these dynamics, as MG International Fragrance Company, we ended the year by increasing our production quantity in line with our goals. As all these downsides motivated all manufacturers to export, we, too, shaped our new term plans in view of these
data.
What is the importance of R&D for MG International? Could you tell us about R&D projects you carried out recently?
R&D departments are indispensable for a large-scale company in fragrance production. R&D work constitute a large part of our production processes. Besides, as MG International, we are proud to gain the status of R&D Center for the very first R&D laboratory of the industry. With our new technological works and innovation capacity in our laboratories, which gained the status of R&D Center in 2017, we are proud of leading the industry’s future, fragrance technologies, human resources, and innovative solutions in production.
As MG International how would you describe your approach to technology? How would you define the position and importance of technology in the sector you cater for?
Since 2015, we have been producing in the world’s first integrated fragrance production facility with the highest production capacity under one roof constructed in Gebze Organized Industrial Zone. In line with our fragrance industry and the demand, we keep on growing every day, and today, our facility size is over 50 thousand m2.
We have preserved our pioneering identity in the industry with our high technology and innovation capacity in our robotic system 28km long pipeline integrated facility. We prioritize our customers’ expectations in the fragrance industry and technological innovations in line with market trends, reflect them in our production and strive to present innovative projects to our customers.
Could you tell us about a social responsibility project your firm initiated or pioneered if there is any?
We are aware that steps should be taken with a holistic approach for the growth of Turkey’s industry. In this respect, we act with human and environment-friendly approaches, keeping in mind we are responsible for the future, and carry out strategic corporate projects as such.
In this line, we determine our corporate strategies parallel to the UN’s Global Action Plans and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and collaborate with associations, foundations, and companies that comply with SDG targets. Currently, besides our membership to Ethics and Reputation Association (TEID), Temiz Deniz Association (TURMEPA), we support public benefit organizations such as Turkish Education Foundation (TEV) and TEMA Foundation
via fonds.
For instance, our Blue Detectives project that we carry out with TURMEPA and is planned to be completed in May 2022 is still in progress. The project we carry out for raising awareness among primary education students and students of vocational high schools still continues. For investing in the future of the industry, we support students’ education and contribute to progress with fonds, corporate collaborations, etc.
What measures do you take while manufacturing for a more sustainable world? How would you describe MG International’s approach to sustainability in this context?
Since 1961, we are investing in the tomorrow by maintaining our human and environment-friendly approach and aiming for a sustainable future. We mind the planet’s vulnerabilities while manufacturing with our sustainable business models and update our production processes.
Thereby, we ensure the efficient use of local resources with sustainable opportunities in the production of new raw materials and we are reaching higher levels of economic productivity through innovation in manufacturing for the diversification of raw materials for high value-added essential oils.
Additionally, we are striving for reducing our CO2 emissions with our high technology capacity and carrying out production minding ecosystem balance by protecting biodiversity with effective use of raw materials for reinforcing our environmentally-friendly identity.
Could you tell us about your objectives for the coming years? What innovations lie ahead for MG International for the coming years?
We will continue our investments planned for the upcoming year. We aim to reach higher economic productivity levels by diversification of ingredients technological improvement, and innovation in the industry. We are planning to take part in effective duties for contributing to Turkey’s export.
