TURKISH AMBASSADOR FOR LONDON Abdurrahman Bilgiç has attended a dinner and meeting held by the European Turkish Brands Association at Antalya Restaurant in Kent.
The meeting saw Business Councilor Aytuğ Göksu also attended the meeting and listen to the problems of businessman.
Turkish Ambassador for London Abdurrahman Bilgiç was invited to the dinner as the honoury alongside Ambassador Business Councilor S. Aytuğ Göksu.
Host Head of ATMB Cafer Mahiroğlu and members of the directory association saw the event led and moderated by economist Nazif Akpınar. Other guests also included Manager of Turkish bank- Iş Bank in London, Hasan Candan and Turkish Airlines manager Osman Battal with 60 other businessman representatives of other various sectors.
BİLGİÇ: GLOBAL TURKISH BRANDS ARE IMPORTANT
Speaking at the meeting Turkish Ambassador Abdurrahman Bilgiç, spoke of how Turkey holds a huge strategy in progressing with the export industry. He said: “Turkey aims to have the export rate income reach up to 500,000 dollars by 2023. During this period, it is very important that global Turkish brands are created. Our Ministry of Economy is working hard towards co-ordinating the aim to create global Turkish brands. For example, the TURQUALITY project has become a world known campaign project which is to support Turkish Global brands being creating.”
He added: “We have firms who have made international connections and began to sell their products to the international market allowing them to become a brand with time. I am seeing this happen with great pleasure. Bilgiç continued by saying: “Apart from our companies selling their products to global markets, we are also watching the European Turkish Brands Association play a big part with the works they are doing to contribute with inspiration.”
BRANDING IS LONG AND DIFFICULT…
Head of the ATMB (Avrupa Turk Markalar Birligi), also spoke and explained that they set up the association two years ago and are taking confident steps towards their goals. He said: “I want you all to know that your support is very important in us becoming an organisation and in developing. Unfortunately a product doesn’t become a brand just with investment. To become a brand the consumer has to want to own it and class it as theirs.
“Everyone here is experiencing the difficulties in working to turn their products into a brand. Particularly abroad, we have explained that the bureaucracy has to decrease in order for the small and middle works to progress and developed.”
RECEP ERCAN SPOKE OF DIFFICULTIES
Member of ATMB’s Directory Association Recep Ercan explained the difficulties they face when products from Turkey are presented to the European and English market. He said: “When we question our success in the sector we are in, we become aware of the many mistakes we make, there are several ideas but there isn’t an idea we can take hold of. There are hundreds of brands but brands that become known and held onto in Europe are very few. I’ve travelled to many countries and what I see is that it will be enough if we do some things like Italy and China. We don’t need a new discovery.”