EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW H. Cenk Eynehan PASHA BankEXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW. H. Cenk Eynehan CEO, PASHA Bank...

WWW.EKOVİTRİN.COM | MARCH 2017 | 1

PASHA Bank is the

‘‘

‘‘www.ekovitrin.com

MARCH | 2017/03 | ISSUE:203

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

H. Cenk EynehanCEO, PASHA Bank Turkey

Global

MONTHLY ECONOMICS MAGAZINE

financing bridge between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia

2 | MARCH 2017 | WWW.EKOVİTRİN.COM

Pick the stars of 2016

LICENSE HOLDERUluslararası Yeni Haber Ajansı UHA A.Ş.

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDKamuran Abacıoğlu

VICE CHAIRMANŞeref Özata

EDITOR IN CHIEF Bilal Koçak

HEADQUARTERSFabrikalar Cad. No:1 Beşyol-Florya/İstanbulTel: (0212) 426 88 00 (Pbx) - Faks: (0212) 426 88 09

WEB [email protected]

MONTHLY ECONOMY MAGAZINE

Ekovitrin’s annually organized, traditional “Stars of the Year” still

continue to voting. The most successful names, institutions

and brands of the year have been nominated by our Jury and will be

elected by your votes. The 2016 Star awards will be awarded with a

splendid ceremony.

Turkey’s only, international monthly economics magazine Ekovitrin is in its 17th year. Our magazine will actualize

the traditional annual “Stars of the Year” survey, through our readers’

contribution. Short information on the candidates nominated by the Ekovitrin jury and the “Stars of 2016” survey will

be available with our March edition. For each category 3 candidates have been

nominated. Our readers will be able to vote for one candidate from each

category.

‘‘Stars of the Year’’candidates

The Ekovitrin Juryhas nominated the

Ekovitrin Chairman of the Board

Representative of Ekovitrin USA

Pro Group’s Charirman of the Board

Ekovitrin Editor in Chief

Chairman of Azerbaijan- TurkishBusinessman Association

Chairman of Communications Consultacy Agency

EkovitrinVice Chairman

Former President of Romania -Turkish Businessman

Vice President of KONUTDER

Ekovitrin News Editor

Professor of international relationships and political scientist

Kocaeli University Faculty Member

Kamuran ABACIOĞLU

VahapYAZAROĞLU

Doç. Dr. SalimÇAM

Bilal KOÇAK

Cemal YANGIN

Burçak ILIMAN

Şe ref ÖZA TA

Dr. DursunALTINIŞIK

Hasan RAHVALI

Cesur ÇAÇA

PROF. DR. BenerKARAKARTAL

Tümay MERCAN


We have talked with H. Cenk Eynehan, CEO of PASHA Bank Turkey about the story of establishment of PASHA Bank and its objectives in Turkey.

''We think that, the Turkish economy and the banking sector shall continue their modest growth.''

financial WE ARE the

CEO, PASHA Bank Turkey H. Cenk Eynehan:

brıdge

Could you please tell us about the story of PASHA Bank as of its establishment in Turkey in the year 1987 as the first foreign-capital-ized investment bank until today?

Our Bank is Turkey’s first invest-ment bank with foreign capital, founded in Istanbul with the title of Yatırım Bank A.Ş., and, until 2015 it has rendered services under the management of different invest-ment groups. In 2015, the princi-pal shareholder Aksoy Holding has struck hands with the Baku-based regional financial institution PA-SHA Bank OJSC, which it had been working as a strategic partner with, and transferred all the shares of the bank, and the new title of the bank has been changed into PASHA In-vestment Bank Inc.

Could you tell us about the ob-jectives of PASHA Bank in Turkey? To what extent were you able to achieve your goals since the day of your incorporation?

As PASHA Bank, we have started out to provide sustainable banking services to our corporate customers who would like to grow in Turkey as well as the triangle which also includes Azerbaijan and Georgia. While offering corporate and in-vestment banking products to our customers within the framework of boutique banking, we would like to establish maintainable relationships with them in the long run. During the two years in which we have op-erated in Turkey, we have expanded our bank twice as much and made works that generate added value in the field of foreign trade. In 2016,

we have put the models intended for project and business capital financ-ing into effect. We have guaranteed our customers’ future receivables arising from sales within the struc-ture of PASHA Bank and by providing the necessary financing support we have broken new ground in the re-gion that covers Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

There are more than 5,000 com-panies currently operate in Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia, and the total foreign trade volume between these three countries is approximately 4.5 billion US Dollars. In order to contrib-ute to the development of the trade

in the said countries, we would like to develop the relations between the enterprises throughout the territory and establish long-lasting collabora-tion based on mutual win-win prin-ciple for all the parties concerned in the countries of operation.

Can we hear about your short and mid-term goals?

In our 3-years strategy covering the years of 2015 and 2016, we have closed the first two years with growth and profitability exceeding our targets. We believe that we will reach our goal this year as well. We have already started our second three years strategy works covering the years from 2018 to 2020 as well.

In accordance with our objective to become the main bank of the entrepreneurs who occupy in inter-national trade within the triangle of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia and also to facilitate regional business partnerships, we shall endeavor to create an increasing value for all our

BETWEEN Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia

“We are working to further strengthen close relations,

arising from our history together, through financial ties and contribute to the development of regional trade between Turkey,

Azerbaijan and Georgia.”

H. Cenk Eynehan


INTERVIEW H. CENK EYNEHAN

stakeholders, thus to carry them to higher levels by diversifying our product and service range in the year of 2017.

We think that, the Turkish econo-my and the banking sector shall con-tinue their modest growth. Although we foresee that the credit growth of the sector would be in the range of 10 to 12 percent, our goal as PASHA Bank is to reach a credit growth at a level of 25 percent.

How do the projects coming into prominence between the three countries affect the relations?

In the field of energy, TANAP Pro-

ject is one of the most important rep-resentatives of the projects which Turkey and Azerbaijan have brought off. Another project is the Baku-Tbi-lisi-Kars Railway Project called “Iron Silk Road”. The project is expected to be completed in 2018, which shall form a corridor that would enable Turkey and all the Central Asian, Cau-casian and Asian countries to reach Europe much more easily.Completion of these huge projects shall provide significant contribu-tions to the economy. In this sense, although the next period shall be the period developing the relations

in the triangle of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia, we, as PASHA Bank, shall also be supporting this process economically and culturally.

What do you do in sense of in-vestment banking?

In 2016, we have mediated a merger-acquisition transaction in the field of Investment Banking and through this transaction realized; we have administered to create fi-nancial resources through thirteen individual investors and one inter-national institutional investor for a young company operating in the

field of orthodontics. In this context, in line with our objectives, we shall be continuing to be involved in the merger and acquisition processes of innovative and value adding compa-nies during the upcoming period as well. We aim to increase our bank’s diversity in external sources in 2017 too. In the year of 2016 we have is-sued our first bond in this context. Last week we have issued our sec-ond bond and we seen a pretty high demand. Our bond issuance shall also continue throughout 2017 in varying maturities and amounts.

How would you assess global risks? Global markets, which have started the year of 2016 modestly, have followed a positive course during the first half of the year as a result of strong recovery in oil prices, strong indications by the Federal Reserve that it would not be as aggressive as it has previ-ously mentioned, and the European

“We would like to establish long-lasting

collaborations that are based

on mutual win-win

principle with the

entrepreneurs operating in

Turkey,Azerbaijan and

Georgia triangle.”

Central Bank’s new steps towards expansion and also the increase in the global risk appetite. Neverthe-less, as a consequence of the unfa-vorable and unpriced developments experienced during the second half of the year, we have witnessed ag-gressive price movements affecting all the global markets. As PASHA Bank, we have closed the year of 2016, which has been a very hectic, with a profit of 14 million Turkish Liras by monitoring the market very closely and taking necessary actions in a timely manner.

Do you have investments in the field of technology?

We work to provide products and services in accordance with the needs and expectations of our

customers. One of these services is Internet Banking. For a bank of our scale, we have invested heavily in Internet Banking in order to provide better service to our customers; and we shall continue to invest in this area to further develop it, and use this channel to meet our customers’ demands efficiently and promptly.

How would you rate the eco-nomic relations between Azerbai-jan and Turkey?

Turkey is the country where Azer-baijan makes most of its invest-ments at. With the advantage that PASHA Bank Azerbaijan is the larg-est private equity banking group in the country, we shall be continuing to contribute to increase the sales of our customers exporting in the

region as well as foreign trade vol-ume between these two countries.

When we look at the strategic projects between the two countries, we see that the energy investments have a significant share in Turkey’s becoming an energy corridor. Be-sides the pipelines, Petkim and Star Refinery are also two rather impor-tant investments. These and similar investments shall further increase the trade volume between the two countries in the upcoming period. As PASHA Bank we shall too support these improving economic relations.

How do you evaluate entrepre-neurship of Turkish people?

Universities in Turkey are creating platforms for entrepreneurs. We are also working to encourage entrepre-

neurship and to support entrepre-neurs. We believe that creative ide-as of young entrepreneurs should especially be supported. When this is realized, I think that Turkey shall have even finer prospects before her. Brain power has important and triggering effects on the economy. For this, it is necessary to give the entrepreneurs way in every field, pri-marily in the field of technology. We support entrepreneurs as an invest-ment bank. In this sense, by means of a Merger and Acquisition process we have executed, we have admin-istered to create financial resources through individual and institutional investors for a young company op-erating in the field of orthodontics within the core structure of Istanbul Technical University.

''WE ARE STRENGTHENING ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL RELATIONS’’CEO, PASHA Bank Turkey H. Cenk Eynehan, told in an exclusive interview he made with Kamuran Abacıoğlu, the Chairman of the Board of Ekovitrin about PASHA Bank’s multiple missions.


6 | MARCH 2017 | WWW.EKOVİTRİN.COM WWW.EKOVİTRİN.COM | MARCH 2017 | 7


Eynehan has started his banking career at DHB Bank N.V (The Netherlands) in 1994, and served at various positions until the year of 2001. Eynehan, who has continued his business life in the real sector as a managing partner between the years of 2002 and 2004, has occupied a managerial position at various departments of Şekerbank from 2005 to 2010. Between 2011 and 2013, he has served as the assistant general manager responsible for marketing and sales at Ekspo Faktoring. Eynehan has been appointed as the General Manager and Member of the Board of PASHA Bank on August 2, 2013 and he has been carrying on his role as a Member of the Board of Directors of PASHA Bank Georgia since October 26, 2015

H. CENK EYNEHAN

ABOUT

ArTriangle ‘City Stories’

Photography Exhibit“As PASHA Bank we would like to be a bridge in terms of cultural relations as well. The ArTriangle ‘City Stories’ Photography Exhibit which reflects our common life culture constitutes the last ring to clinch this triangle.”

We know that as PASHA Bank, you have recently realized the ArTriangle ‘City Stories’ Photography Exhibit within the scope of cultural and artis-tic activities. Could you tell us a little about this exhibition?

While contributing to the develop-ment of the regional trade between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia, we have also purposed to blend our cul-tural structures with artistic bonds. As PASHA Bank, we do not want to make do with being only a financial bridge between Azerbaijan and Turkey. At the same time, we would like to be a bridge in terms of cultural relations. ArTriangle ‘City Stories’ Photography Exhibit, which reflects our common life culture, consti-tutes the last ring to clinch this triangle. In the month of December, we have pre-sented our exhibition, which shall carry our long-lasting collaborations between these three countries to eternity, to art-lovers.

We did an artistic work for this exhibi-tion by taking the most beautiful photo-

graphs of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia in collaboration with one of our valuable photographers. We have staged an ex-hibition consisting of the photographs of people taken on the streets of Baku, Tbilisi and Istanbul. Our exhibition, which was open to visitors from December 21 to January 31, attracted great interest. 49 photographs, selected from thou-sands of beautiful images, were pre-sented to art-lovers. With this cultural project I have mentioned, we have in-troduced the wonderful cities of these three countries to each other by pho-tographing them. This project was an important effort demonstrating that we have a mission in the cultural field be-sides our economic goals.

As PASHA Bank, we do not want to make do with being only a financial bridge between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia. At the same time, we would like to be a bridge in terms of cultural relations. We would like to introduce, to explain the cultures of these three coun-tries to each other. E


2017 shall bethe year of hope in tourism

The Eastern Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Fair (EMITT), held with the participation of 80 countries, has given a boost to the morale of the tourism sector. Emphasizing that the support given to the sector shall continue, Nabi Avcı, the Minister of Culture and Tourism says that the losses in 2016 shall be compensated in the coming period.

Nabi Avcı:

Müberra Eresin, the Vice President of the Turkish Hoteliers Association: The Ministry of Tourism should join the Economic Coordination Committee T he Eastern Mediter-

ranean International Tourism and Travel Fair (EMITT), which has opened its doors

for the 21st time, has been a mo-rale booster for the professionals of tourism. The Eastern Mediter-ranean International Tourism and Travel Fair, which was attended by the Minister of Culture and Tourism Nabi Avcı, Governor of Istanbul Va-sip Şahin, Governor of Antalya Münir Karaloğlu, Mayor of Istanbul Metro-politan Municipality Kadir Topbaş and United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary General Taleb Rifai, has gathered 5 thousand companies and brands from 80 countries on a 7.000 square meters indoor area and at 12 pavilions. Nabi Avcı, Minister of Culture and Tourism, who has taken the floor at the fair said: “The fair is a major challenge to the dark powers that aim to make the whole world uninhabitable. We do not need to compete with each other as tourism countries. Competition in tourism should not be destructive but has to be contributing to world peace.”

Also pointing out the liveliness at the fair, Avcı has commented, “Rep-resentatives of the tourism industry are effectuating their promotions

through this fair. The Eastern Med-iterranean International Tourism and Travel Fair, which reveals that Turkey is a favorite country in the field of tourism, also points to the recovery in the sector at the same time. The developments, which would emerge this year and there-after, shall recoup the losses suf-fered in 2016. We need to stand tall, without giving up our optimism and must invite all of our friends to Tur-key in order to spend their holidays.”

Stating that they would contin-ue to support the tourism industry, Avcı has continued his speech say-ing, “In 2016, we have extended our fuel support not only to charter pla-nes but also to scheduled aircrafts. We have increased the number of airports. We have provided support for the restructuring of the credit debts of the companies operating in the sector and the like. Apart from these, we have taken some financial measures to relieve the sector.”

The representatives of the tou-rism sector, who had the opportu-nity to meet with the Minister Avcı at the Eastern Mediterranean In-ternational Tourism and Travel Fair have expressed that they were ho-peful for 2017, referring to the im-portance of the campaigns for the revitalization of the tourism sector.

2016 has been a tough year. We have had bad days, both in terms of global developments and those we have gone through in our country. We continue our works hoping that 2017 would be a better year. Our opinion is that the industry would survive this challenging period by virtue of continued support provid-ed by the government. As the tour-ism sector, we expect the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to join the Economic Coordination Board (ECC) for the increase of these supports. Should this be realized, we think that the grants provided for our sector shall be increased. We have of course experienced a decrease in the number of tourist coming from both Europe and Russia due to the impact global risks and terrorist incidents. The number of tourists coming to Turkey from Europe has dropped by 35 percent.

Nevertheless, organizations such as the Eastern Mediterranean In-ternational Tourism and Travel Fair, which was held in Istanbul at the beginning of 2017, revive the sec-

tor. After the fair in Istanbul we shall participate in fairs to be or-ganized in Israel and Iran. Then, the fairs coming up next are the ones in Berlin, Moscow, Dubai and long haul destinations Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires. We are trying to represent our members by par-ticipating in all major fairs of the world as the Turkish Hoteliers As-sociation. We are trying to reduce the unfavorableness experienced in 2016. There shall be serious rise in the tourism sector upon ending of the terrorist incidents, achieve-ment of lasting peace in Syria, and further improving our relations with Russia, Israel and Iran.


DOSSIER TOURISM IN TURKEY


Nevin Akçelik, the President of the Board of Club Nena: Bülent Kuş, the Chairman of the Board of MİKA TUR:

Ercan Torunoğullari, The General Manager of Orka Group:

Ersin Kiraz, the General Manager of Bera Alanya:

Muzaffer Aygün, the Chairman of the Executive Board of Titanic Hotels Group:

We are an unrivalled country in tourism We made 60 percent of our sales via online

We expect increase in demand

We offer an alternative holiday paradise

Losses shall be recovered

Turkey is in an unbeatable posi-tion in the tourism sector with its quality service mentality and prices it offers. As CLUB NENA, we con-tribute to the sector by our hotel in Antalya. Our hotel is established on an area of 100,000 square me-ters in the Kızılağaç, Manavgat region. Starting its operation with 336 rooms in 1997, the hotel cur-

By integrating the reservation system, which we have personally developed, with our technological infrastructure and adding corporate marketing plans to our strong sales network, we have grown as tatilbu-dur.com. As tatilbudur.com, which aims to offer brand new products to the tourism industry, we have reached a significant superiority in the online market. We realize 60 percent of our sales over the Inter-net. In 2016, we have attained a rapid growth rate. We have reached a growth rate of 68 percent at the end of June before the attempted coup. For the year 2017, which we look at with hope, early bookings have begun on November 20. From that date until today, sales in the sense of tourism are going very well. When we make a comparison as tatilbudur.com between the figures

We have first stepped into the tour-ism sector with Bera Konya in 1999. The Bera Hotels Group has been continuing its journey with Bera Mevlana opened in 2003, Bera Alanya which is a holiday par-adise without alternative opened in 2007, and lastly Bera Ankara Hotel opened in December 2013. Consisting of four ho-tels today, the Bera Hotels offer a total of 733 rooms with a capacity of 1940 beds, and serves its guests with the concept of “Traditional Bera Hospitality”. Bera Alan-ya is a hotel open in summer and winter

We hope that the tourism season in 2017 will be better than last year. In addition to the impression we have gotten during the East-ern Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Fair, the anticipation of the participants, agents and tour operators are in this direction as well. Ameliorating relations with Russia shall increase the number of tourists. We think that the European tourists with increased purchasing powers due to rise in the foreign exchange rates would prefer Turkey. The loss-es suffered last year shall be recuperated in 2017. With its rich and modern facilities, with its quality service concept, Turkey shall contin-ue to grow in the field of tourism. This year we expect to recover the loss suffered last year. As a representative of the tourism sector, we have continuously developed the concept of quality service, without giving up, as Titanic from day one. We have meticulously carried

rently continues its activities with 590 rooms and a total bed amount of 1184. Our guests predominant-ly consist of European tourists. Besides Europe, Russia and other countries in the region are also im-portant for us. We expect Turkey to have a better year in 2017 in terms of tourism sector. We are trying to get through this rocky road with the

of last year and this year, we see that we have attained a growth rate of 54 percent. Tatilbudur is only interested in domestic tour-ism, and it does not bring in tour-ists from abroad. Reservations are mostly intensified on the Antalya region. Region wise, there is not much difference between the Ae-gean and Mediterranean regions. In terms of reservations, levels in the Mediterranean Region are around 55 percent and the Aege-an Region is around 45 percent. In the development of the tourism sector, advertising and publicity play an important part. Some sec-tors should not be allowed to try to create a perception as if there is a war going on in Turkey. This mis-conception has led to a decrease in the number of tourists particu-larly coming from Europe. Touristic

We are optimistic for 2017 following a dif-ficult year. We believe in the Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım’s statement “Everything will be good”. Our government has given incen-tives to European tour operators. We should not look in the events pessimistically. We shall catch our upward trend in 2017. You cannot find the beaches, history, and service quality in Turkey anywhere else; therefore, I think we shall be catching our rising trend in terms of tourism. We observe a boom, es-pecially in the English markets. By the effect of the foreign exchange rate, we expect the British to prefer Turkey instead of Europe for their holidays. The number of Russian tour-ists would also increase with the relations recovering again. Likewise, we anticipate a

ever since its opening in the year of 2007. Our hotel, which provides uninterrupted service for 12 months, is 10 years old this year. Our facility hosts congress meetings, seminars and organizations. The early booking period for 2017 continues rapidly. In conjunction with various renovations we have made, we have started the new season optimistically. This year’s Eastern Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Fair has gone great. We have got-ten serious amounts of demand. Bera Alanya is an important address in alterna-

on our works in order to make our guests comfortable in our hotels. Our objective is to become one of the leading hotel brands in the world, not just in Turkey. We have entered in the business life 40 years ago in Berlin by running a restaurant and we have progressed. Then, our adventure has also developed in the field of hotel industry. The Titanic Group pos-sesses seventeen restaurants and thirteen hotels. The hotels affiliated with our group provide services in Germany and Turkey. We would like to represent Turkey in the best pos-sible way around the world and contribute to the growth of the tourism sector. The govern-ment and private sector representatives shall join their forces, and shall relieve the industry from the troublesome situation that it is in. We anticipate that Turkey, a unique country with its wonderful nature, shall reach a good level in terms of tourism in the year of 2017. E

support provided by the government. We have made new breakthroughs to provide the best service to local and foreign tourists. We have renewed our room concept. We thought of everything for our guests to make the most of their vacation. On the other hand, we signed a business partnership with tatilbudur.com. I think it is a good partnership for us.

travels are trips made with pleas-ure after all. Therefore, we need to explain to foreigners very well clearly that Turkey is a safe coun-try. People prefer not to go to the areas where they deem risky. After all, there is a significant crowd of people that has known and liked Turkey for many years. Since the rise in foreign exchange rate shall increase the purchasing power of the foreigners, they would prefer Turkey which provides quality ser-vice for holidays. We expect 2017 to be better compared to last year. Our expectations in Europe and Russia are positive. The number of Arab tourists is also on the rise. We hope to reach the high figures we have had in the previous peri-od again in the number of tourists coming from China and Japan with-in the context of cultural tourism.

demand generation for Turkey from Ukraine as well.

There are more than 5.000 Turkish expa-triates in Europe. It is also important that our citizens spend their holidays in Turkey. The best way for advertising is word-of-mouth. Therefore, expatriates play an important role in correcting the misperceptions about Tur-key. When the quality we have attained in the tourism sector as the country combined with luxury hotel concept, delicious food, clean beaches, and our hospitality, we have reached the highest point in the field of tour-ism. I think that no European country could offer what Turkey offers in the tourism sector. We aim to grow further as the group in the sector with new investments.

tive tourism, which is also known as halal tourism. We are the first group to build up a hotel from scratch with alternative hotel concept in Turkey. Providing services not seasonal but throughout the year is also an important privilege. The tourism sector was one of the first sectors to be affected by the negative developments confront-ed in 2016. We are hopeful for 2017. We would like to better reclaim this year along with the developments in the Turkish tour-ism and our special concept. We could say that the demand for 2017 is good.


DOSSIER TOURISM IN TURKEY

‘‘SINGLE WINDOW’’

at the customs is IMPLEMATION

on the way Ekovitrin spoke with Bülent Tüfenkci, the Minister of Customs and Trade. Tüfenkci announced that the “Single Window” system with an electronic sub-structure that allows all the necessary documents to be obtained from one point during the customs procedures shall be introduced. With the “Single Window” system, it is aimed to eliminate user errors, to increase the effectiveness of the controls, and to shorten the processing time in the customs procedures.

Bülent Tüfenkci the Minister of Cus-toms and Trade explained to Ekovit-rin that the “Single Window” system with an electronic sub-structure that

allows all the necessary documents to be obtained from one point during the customs procedures shall be introduced. Tüfenkci said that, thanks to this sys-tem it is objected to eliminate user errors, to increase the effectiveness of the controls, and to further shorten the time span of the customs procedures.

Mr. Minister, we would like to begin our inter-view by asking you a question about the elimina-tion of the problems experienced at customs. What does your ministry aim to do in this regard?

Our priority as the Ministry of Customs and Trade is to reduce the number of formalities arising from customs procedures and also to facilitate trading; therefore, to provide the opportunity for the costs of the customs procedures to be reduced to a minimum level. With the objective of “Faster and Safer Com-merce,” we have implemented many electronic pro-jects and we still continue to introduce such projects.

“Markets shall be relieved.” The Minister of Customs and Trade said that in 2017 many electronic projects shall be implemented in order to make the commerce faster and safer. Minister Tüfenkci said, “Our priority is to reduce the number of formalities arising from the customs procedures and also to fa-cilitate trading; therefore, to provide the opportunity for the costs of the customs procedures to be reduced to a minimum level.”

INTERVIEW BÜLENT TÜFENKCİ

BÜLENT TÜFENKCİTHE MINISTER OF CUSTOMS AND

TRADE

“While our country is struggling against the war of trusteeship on

the one hand, it has succeeded to keep the economy alive on

the other hand. In comparison to other regions, positive

discrimination has been made in the supporting of Eastern Anatolia and Southeastern Anatolia, which are mostly

affected regions by terrorism, especially because they share a

common border.”



costs of the tradesmen.

“IT SHALL GO INTO EFFECT UPON ITS APPROVAL BY 110

COUNTRIES”

The greatest step taken in the international arena for this pur-pose is the acceptance of the Trade Facilitation Agreement within the structure of the World Trade Or-ganization and the completion of the internal approval procedures Agreement by 102 members of the World Trade Organization. The Agreement has also been approved by our country by the decree of the Council of Ministers dated 29th of Februray in 2016 and numbered 2016/8570 and it shall become effective upon approval by 110 countries. The agreement contains a number of provisions aimed at ensuring the predictability of bor-der crossing procedures through facilitating the access to commer-cial legislation, increasing the use of information and communication technologies, increasing the effec-tiveness in the border crossings procedures by reducing unneces-sary formalities, and lowering com-mercial costs by limiting charges and fees collected for border cross-ings procedures. In this context, it is expected that by reducing the time spans of customs procedures, a significant contribution shall be made for the reduction of the costs borne by the merchants and coun-tries in international trade.

“WE MIGHT HAVE A LOSS IN THE AMOUNT OF 13 BILLION US

DOLLARS”

What are your assessments about the present situation of our customs union relations with the United States of America and the European Union? How the rela-tions on these two fronts shall progress in the next period?

As you know, a World Bank report,

relations would be beneficial for our country.

“RELIEF CREDIT TO

TRADESMEN”

“The advantages of the project are the opportunities for getting low interest rate loans and the provisioning of Treasury supported Credit Guarantee Fund security for these credits. When we consider that in the present circumstances loan interest rates are between 15% and 18%, and the banks do not grant loans due to risks which the collateral incapability poses, the relief credit by the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Ex-changes shall enliven the Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, thus contribute to the economy.” E

which examines the effects if the existing Customs Union between Turkey and the European Union is translated into a new generation Free Trade Agreement, was pub-lished in 2014. Said report also in-cludes analyzes with respect to the economic effects of a Free Trade Agreement to be signed between the European Union and the Unit-ed States, along with the existing Customs Union. In the aforemen-tioned report, it is stated that if the Customs Union is transformed into a Free Trade Agreement, our coun-try’s economy would be reduced by 7 percent, and in case Turkey does not participate in a Free Trade Agreement to be signed between the European Union and the Unit-ed States, according to the current

situation, our country’s loss shall be 13 billion US dollars. When the data provided in the report is taken into account, we evaluate that be-ing outside the economic integra-tion to be established between the two largest economic blocks of the world would cause our country to slow down in reaching its econom-ic goals. In this respect, we believe that reaching an agreement, which safeguards the common inter-ests of the parties that is similar to the economic integration to be established between the Europe-an Union and the United States of America, and updating the existing Customs Union with the European Union in accordance with today’s economic and commercial require-ments, and deepening economic

“WE HAVE SHORTENED THE TIME SPANS OF THE

CUSTOMS PROCEDURES”Thanks to the projects we have

realized in the field of customs in 2016, customs procedures have been further simplified and time spans of the procedures have been shortened. We aim to eliminate user mistakes, increase the efficiency of the controls and shorten the time span of the customs procedures through the “Single Window” which has an electronic sub-structure system that ensures all the docu-ments requested during the execu-tion of the customs procedures are supplied from a single point.

“WE DO NOT ALLOW SMUGGLING TO HAPPEN”

Technical devices play an impor-

tant role in fighting against smug-gling in an effective and compre-hensive manner. Especially the increase in vehicle and container inspection systems located at our border gates has been an impor-tant factor in this struggle. As a result of all the technical, physical and human investments made, significant results were obtained in the fight against smuggling ac-tivities.

The state, which confiscates the vehicles brought from abroad as if brand new, is making new regulations to bring these vehi-cles back into the economy. Could you give information about the new regulation with respect to vehicles brought from abroad?

Our studies on the topic are cur-

rently carried on. After the works are completed, we shall make the necessary announcement.

“SHIPMENTS OVER 75 EUROS”

Due to changes in the customs regulations effective from June 01, 2016, mandatory informa-tion to be added to the summary statement has been introduced for the shipments exceeding the 75 Euro limit. In this case, what should those who would make purchases from abroad pay at-tention to? What does the new Customs Code bring? Would problems be encountered at the customs?

After the changes made in our legislation, it has become compul-sory that the Summary Declara-

tions submitted for the shipments over 75 Euros and/or subject to duty contain the following informa-tion as of the date of June 01, 2016:

4 digits Customs Tariff Statistics Position number of the contents of the shipment,

Tax Office and Number,

if the recipient is a Turkish nation-al, their Personal Identity Number of the Republic of Turkey,

if the recipient is a foreign person, their Passport Number

There are no changes other than these ones, and the procedures would be conducted as before.

“BUREAUCRACY AT THE CUSTOMS SHALL BE

MINIMIZED”

Due to changes in the customs regulations effective from 1st of June in 2016 mandatory informa-tion to be added to the summary statement has been introduced for the shipments exceeding the 75 Euro limit. In this case, what should those who would make purchases from abroad pay atten-tion to?

In international trade, as a con-sequence of today’s technologi-cal developments and changes in the public administration concept of the states, reducing the trans-action costs and minimizing the bureaucracy are among the most important objectives. In this regard, the areas where works should con-centrate are the customs adminis-trations and customs procedures. A successful customs administra-tion is required to simplify the cus-toms procedures in the framework of paperwork and administrative burdens, and by reducing the fees and liabilities, thus to minimize the

INTERVIEW BÜLENT TÜFENKCİ


German citizen Jacqueline Bakır Brader is a business woman of Turkish origin who takes place at the top of the real estate and construction sector. Her life is dramatic as well as interesting.

It was not easy at all to achieve success and grow in the male-dominant real estate sector.

She has reached the peak thanks to

her courage

SHE BOUGHT HISTORICAL BUILDING Jacqueline Copper Brader bought the famous “Robert Koch Hous” building in Wilhelmshaven, GermanyShe exposed her own name in the business world. She has signed hundreds of construction projects in 26 years.

Jacqueline Bakır Brader, a busi-ness woman of Turkish origin who lives in Jever, which is a

small coastal town located in the northern part of Germany on the shore of North Sea and close to the Netherlands, shares her life story that could be the storyline of a mo-tion picture… When her family has moved to Germany in the year of 1972 from Siverek, Şanlıurfa she has only been an infant. Growing up as one of the five children of a guest worker father, Jacqueline Bakır Brader (Güler) has run away from her home in her youth being affected by the domestic upheaval. While em-barking on an adventure at the age of 17, she has been making plans saying, “I will stand on my own feet. I will finish both my school, I’ll get a job and work.” The young girl, who has started to work in the real estate sector, has made a major progress in

the sector in a short time thanks to her commercial acu-men. She has set up her own business and carried out many successful projects.Getting into partnerships in the real estate sector, she has accelerated the growth rate of her business. At the end of 26 years, construction, real estate and land works have turned Jacqueline Bakır Brader into a female real estate boss in the region. But life had made her an unpleasant surprise. She had gotten breast cancer. The business woman had won the fight against the disease. The treat-ment process had been a milestone for her. Her business life thereafter has been crowned with social responsibility projects. Jacqueline Bakır Brader, who has given a helping hand to all the sick people and those in need of help, and children in the first place, told Ekovitrin her movie-like life story.

May we go back to the begin-ning of your story? We have come to Germany in 1972. As the children of a guest worker father, together with my brothers and sisters we were five siblings. I have had the dream to be a lawyer, but my mother had wanted me to be a doctor. For this reason, while I was wishing to learn French, I had to learn Latin. The life styles of young German and Turkish girls were quite different. The Turkish girls who were even restricted from swimming have been wavering between the life style in Germany and the mandates of their fathers and their elder broth-ers. I have had difficult times due to these and similar problems that have caused some deep fractures in the family. I have run away from home when I have reached the age of 17. I

INTERVIEW JACQUELINE BAKIR BRADER


HER BOOK HAS GOTTEN TO ''BEST SELLER''She has overcome cancer, which she has contracted at the age of 40, thanks to her pertinacity. She has immortalized her memoirs that might be the storyline of a motion picture by the book “Fountain of Courage – Life is Beautiful”. The book has gotten to the ‘Bestsellers List’ in Germany.

After having started working at the age of 17, I have set up my own company in my twenties and I have expanded it. It was a pleasure for me to actualize what was in my mind. When I have begun to work, I have worked in the insurance sector and then I have switched to the real estate sector and have found my main field. I was dead set on growing. It was a nice job to make thousands of families homeowners.

It felt good seeing my daughters growing up in front of my eyes, to take care of them all from A to Z, and being able to touch their lives. I now embrace life even more tightly with my three daughters named Aylin, Yeliz and Berna, 15, 12, and the youngest 11 years old respectively.

Jacqueline Bakır Brader, her mother Saadet Bakır, her civil engineer sister Nurhayat Bakır

was willing to stand on my own feet. I have gone to another town so that my family could not locate me. My friends used to call me “Jaklin” since they have thought I resembled Jac-queline Kennedy. Together with my life, I had changed my name which was Güler. When I have reached my twenties, I have established my own company and been successful in real estate and land businesses. I have three companies that operate in the fields of real estate purchase and sale, building lands and restoration. occupy an important place in the real estate sector at the moment

. How have you achieved success in the real estate sector?

After having started working at the age of 17, I have set up my own company in my twenties and I have expanded it. It was a pleasure for me to actualize what was in my mind. When I have begun to work, I have worked in the insurance sec-tor and then I have switched to the real estate sector and have found my main field. I was dead set on growing. It was a nice job to make thousands of families homeowners. In the real estate sector when I have sold the families the houses, which they would be living in, were feeling happy, I was being delighted too. I

had liked earning money while ren-dering services to individuals which satisfied them. Today I am 45 years old and continuing to work in the real estate sector. I think that, doing my work fondly has been an important factor in my achievement.

Was it hard for you to gain a foot-hold in Germany in the real estate sector?

It was not easy at all to achieve success and grow in the male-domi-nant real estate sector. I have learned most of the things through experi-ence. I have pretty much paid atten-tion to appear just the way I was. I have gained a place in the industry by constantly maintaining my respect for my work and people. Being able to keep adverse events in the back-ground, thanks to my positive think-ing conception, has been effective for me to come to these days. Your life has taken on a different dimension due to cancer. Could you tell us about that?

I have learned that I had contracted breast cancer at the age of 40, and I

have overcome that disease through treatment. From that day on, my perspective on life has changed. When I have gotten that disease in the year of 2012, all my thoughts about life have changed. Until then, I had been working under an intense work pressure; my priority was to earn and grow more. But after the illness, I have seen the real face of life. I have become acquainted with the feelings I have not experienced so far. I have begun taking care of my children personally whom I have previously entrusted to a nursemaid. I have come to realize that life was not just about working and achiev-ing. I have changed my life utterly. I have moved my office to my house and started spending my entire time with my children. It felt good seeing my daughters growing up in front of my eyes, to take care of them all from A to Z, and being able to touch their lives. I now embrace life even more tightly with my three daugh-ters named Aylin, Yeliz and Berna, 15, 12, and the youngest 11 years old respectively. E

INTERVIEW JACQUELINE BAKIR BRADER


www.eostercume.com.tr

www.eostercume.com.tr

The English Translation service of Ekovitrin has given through “EOS Yeminli Tercume Ltd. Sti. (EOS Sworn Translation Office)”

MEDIA GROUPThe power

of the independent mediaEkovitrin Available in the Global Market


Date post:	13-Jan-2020
Category:	Documents
Upload:	others
View:	11 times
Download:	0 times

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW H. Cenk Eynehan PASHA BankEXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW. H. Cenk Eynehan CEO, PASHA Bank...

Documents