Turkey’s Most Successful Companies Visit the Netherlands

Thirteen award-winning Turkish companies and factory owners visited the Netherlands in recent days. During meetings and speed-dating sessions, Dutch companies were given the opportunity to connect with Turkish entrepreneurs who were selected as the best small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Turkey.

A delegation consisting of seventeen Turkish business leaders and officials received information about the Netherlands and the current investment climate during factory visits, information sessions, and a mini-forum. Attendees included the Turkish Ambassador to The Hague, Zeynep Sibel Algan, SME chairman Michaël van Straalen, Turkish Trade Attaché Tayfun Erkan, and Floris Pas from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).

The chairmen of the Turkish-Dutch business associations HOTIAD (Hikmet Gürcüoğlu) and MUSIAD (Ali Bekdur) also emphasized the success of Turkish-Dutch entrepreneurs and their entrepreneurship. For example, one in four Turkish-Dutch families owns a business, and young people with a Turkish background are increasingly attaining higher education.

During a panel discussion, Turkish-Dutch businesswoman Sevgi Önal (KOMNED) and prominent businessman Mehmet Emin Ateş of Ricoh International shared their experiences in the Netherlands.

Bünyamin Varol of the Turkish economic platform ETW stated that the 149,000 businesses owned by European Turks generate an annual turnover of €50 billion in Europe. These European-Turkish companies employ 650,000 people.

Ferruh Tarık Tığlı of Taxture informed the Turkish award winners about the Dutch tax system, should they wish to open an office or branch in the Netherlands.

Speed Dating

During a matchmaking event, Dutch companies had the opportunity to do business with the Turkish winners selected by KOSGEB, the Turkish SME organization affiliated with the Turkish Ministry of Industry, Science, and Technology. For example, a Dutch paint supplier indicated a potential collaboration with a Turkish paint factory, and a Turkish game developer will enter into business with a Dutch counterpart.

Business Trip

The Turkish delegation also had the opportunity to view the Dutch landscape and the Port of Rotterdam by airplane, received an inside look at the container terminal of the Port of Rotterdam, visited the world’s largest flower auction (FloraHolland Aalsmeer), and toured the world’s largest and most modern cheese (feta) factory, owned by the successful Turkish-Dutch entrepreneur Şerif Aktürk (Kaasmakerij Özgazi).

The Turkish delegation also had a program in Germany, including visits to Mercedes-Benz and Airbus.

Turkey’s Most Successful Companies Visit the Netherlands