Turkey launches image-building campaign to attract global investment

ISTANBUL-Anadolu Agency

Turkey has launched a year-long image-building campaign to inform foreigners through chief executive officers of international companies in Turkey about the “country’s reality,” inviting them and their friends to visit and see it with their own eyes.        

“We will respond to black propaganda against Turkey by reaching out to 500 million people in seven countries within a year through the Turkey Image Campaign, which its motto is ‘Come to Turkey, discover your own story,’” said Mehmet Büyükekşi, chairman of Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), at the launch of the campaign on March 27.      

“Today, CEOs of international companies who believe and trust in Turkey will talk about Turkey instead of us. They work here and they will write their own stories,” he said.       

Büyükekşi added that leading players from various sectors, including communication, pharmacy, electronics and banking will take part in the campaign and share their experiences.       
 
He said the speeches of CEOs have been recorded as part of commercial videos that will be aired on several television channels in Germany, the U.S., France, the U.K., Italy, Russia and United Arab Emirates, as well as on social media.        

Speaking at the event, Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci said Turkey has the most “ambitious” incentive program for investors.        

“We will invite prominent players of the business world and media to Turkey,” he added.        

Jean-Paul Sabet, deputy head of international retail banking at BNP; Fabrizio Guidi, CEO of Sanofi Turkey; Hiroshi Kato, CEO of Toyota Automotive Industry Turkey; Mong Hyun Yoon, Hyundai Assan chairman and CEO; Colman Deegan, CEO of Vodafone Turkey; Peter Catalino, president of Novartis Turkey; and Felix Allemann, CEO of Nestle Turkey, are among heads of international firms who have contributed to the campaign.        

In remarks made in the commercial video, Guidi said, “You find a lot of skilled people here, who are willing to create a brighter future in Turkey.”        

Meanwhile, Catalino said Novartis has been investing in Turkey since the 1950s because they believe in Turkey and its people.