The Turkish-British Tatlıdil Forum was established in 2011 with the aim of building on the political and economic relations between Turkey and the UK in other areas such as business and trade. The Turkish activities of the Turkish-Briths Tatlıdil Forum are run by Pelin Akın, a member of DEİK’s (Foreign Economic Relations Board) British Business Council and a member of the Board of Directors of Akfen Holding. Topics including the constitution, energy, health and regional issues were discussed at the fourth annual Tatlıdil Forum held in Istanbul between November 28 and 30, 2014. Turkey’s 11th President Abdullah Gül, Prince Andrew of the British Royal Family; Jack Straw, former Foreign Secretary of the UK and Ömer Çelik, Minister of Culture and Tourism, took part in the Tatlıdil Forum. More than 120 senior representatives from both countries in the areas of business, politics, academia, media and the arts also attended the forum. Turkey’s 12th President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also gave a speech at the gala dinner organized within the scope of the Turkish-British Tatlıdil Forum on November 30, 2014.
Inter-corporate Mentorship Program for More Women in Boards of Directors
We as Akfen Holding believe as part of our corporate culture in the importance of every task and the value of each employee. We support the social roles of our women employees with activities aimed particularly for them, while in a professional sense offering them career opportunities. Furthermore, Akfen Holding Chairman of the Board of Directors Hamdi Akın serves as mentor at the ‘Inter-corporate Mentorship Program for More Women in Boards of Directors’ launched in partnership with Praesta Türkiye and Forbes Türkiye, thereby offering leadership for women managers as they prepare for their duties in boards of directors.
Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK)
The Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) is responsible for conducting the foreign economic relations of the Turkish private sector, primarily in foreign trade, international investments, services, contracting and logistics. In this regard, it is also involved in researching domestic and international investment opportunities, contributing to raising Turkey’s exports and coordinating similar business development activities. Founded with this aim in 1986, DEİK acquired a new and reinforced status following the adoption of Law No. 6552 on September 11, 2014, completely taking over responsibility “to conduct the foreign economic relations of the Turkish private sector.” As of November 2014, DEİK has 99 founding organizations, 120 business councils, with approximately 2,000 representatives from nearly 900 member companies who make up these councils.
Europe Senior managers of Akfen Holding continued to represent Turkey in 2014, taking roles in various working groups of DEİK. Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Akfen Holding Selim Akın served in the Turkish-Russian Business Council; Pelin Akın, a Member of the Board of Directors of Akfen Holding served in the Turkish-Spanish Business Council and the Turkish-British Business Council while Mustafa Sani Şener, Member of the Board of Directors of TAV Airports Holding and Chairman of the Executive Board, served as Chairman of the Turkish-French Business Council of DEİK
Middle East Selim Akın, Akfen Holding Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors continued to serve in the Steering Committee of the Turkish-Iraq Business Council within the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK).
Far East Süha Güçsav, Akfen Holding CEO, is Chairman of the DEİK Turkish-Singapore Business Council. As of October 2014, he took on an additional duty when he was appointed as the Turkish Honorary Business Representative of International Enterprise Singapore (IESingapore), an agency of the Singapore Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
Non-Governmental Organizations With Which We Are Affiliated
• Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD) • Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TİSK) • Clean Sea Association (TURMEPA) • Corporate Governance Association of Turkey (TKYD) • Young Businessmen Association of Turkey (TÜGİAD) • Family Business Association of Turkey (TAİDER) • Turkish Tourism Investors Association (TYD) • Turkish Businesswomen Association (TİKAD) • Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation (TÜRKONFED ) • Young Presidents Organization (YPO) • B20 Turkey Executive Committee – Infrastructure and Investment Committee • World Economic Forum (WEF) – Global Shapers • Member of the Governing Board of the Association of Listed Companies’ Executives (KOTEDER) • Turkish Investor Relations Association (TÜYİD) • Corporate Communication Professionals Association (KİD) • Real Estate and Real Estate Investment Trust Association (GYODER) • People Management Association of Turkey (PERYÖN)
