Turkey continues its image campaign prepared under the supervision of the Ministry of Economics, Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) and the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB). Turkey's image campaign approaches the objective of reaching 500 million people within 7 countries in one year. 

F ollowing the unsuccessful coup attempt and the terror attacks last year, in order to prevent the international defamatory campaign over Turkey, the executives of the global companies operating in Turkey for many years took action to restore the international image and perception towards the country. Turkey image campaign which was launched by the initiatives of the Minister of the Economy Nihat Zeybekçi, TİM and TOBB started with the objective of reaching 500 million people within seven countries. With the campaign, launched in March 2017 with the supports of the Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekçi, TİM President Mehmet Büyükekşi, TOBB Vice President Halim Mete, the delegates of the NGO’s and the business world along with the top executives of the global companies, it is aimed to give a strong response to the international negative publicity campaigns against Turkey. The campaign, which aims to strengthen the international position of Turkey and avoid the damages on the reputation of the country, is consisted of the seven countries, USA, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, and UAE, which accounts nearly for the 40% of Turkey’s total exports. Completely coordinated from Turkey, the advertisements covering the top executives of the companies and institutions operating in Turkey aired in these seven countries. CAMPAIGN DESCRIBES THE REALITY OF TURKEY The videos, in which the seventeen top executives of international brands personally state their trust and belief towards Turkey, highlight the theme of “Turkey in the hearts and views of foreign friends”. The biggest contrast of the campaign launched in the countries which have the major portion of Turkey’s export, is that the message being brought by the top executives of foreign companies operating and believing in Turkey instead of the domestic executives. Commenting on the campaign, TİM President Mehmet Büyükekşi told: “We initiated this campaign in order to highlight the Turkish economy and the high investment potential it has. Our messages are completely based on the tangible facts of the Turkish economy and investment field. We regard these facts as the most convincing arguments of the campaign. We believe that we need nothing but the facts to be convincing. Our headline is ‘Come to Turkey, discover your own story’. We invite everyone who is willing to meet us, to discover their own story in Turkey. Detailing on the campaign that it will be executed as advertising, digital media, and PR activities in the given countries, Büyükekşi added: “We collaborate with agencies on communication, PR, creative media planning, content design and social media activities. In the first phase an advertising campaign aired in seven countries for three months. Meanwhile, we conducted campaigns to reach our target audience through social media as well as through traditional media. Besides, as mentioned by the Minister of the Economy Nihat Zeybekçi in the launching ceremony, Turkey’s promotional initiative will continue with the invitations to the globally famous figures from business and media to Turkey, and with promotional campaigns in other domains. The campaign goes on full speed with the participation of the professionals such as Unilever Turkey, Middle East and Iran Board Chairman Harm Goossens, Samsung Turkey President DaeHyun Kim, Vodafone Turkey CEO Colman Deegan, Toyota Turkey General Manager and CEO Hiroshi Kato, Hyundai Assan President and CEO Mong Hyun Yoon, Danone Turkey General Manager Laurent Boissier, Sanofi Turkey General Manager Fabrizio Guidi, Novartis Turkey Country President Peter Catalino, Sberbank CEO Herman Gref, BNP Paribas International Personal Banking Vice President Jean Paul Sabet, General Electric Vice President John Rice, Ford Motor Company President and CEO Mark Fields, Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne, Nestle Turkey Board Chairman and General Manager Felix Alleman, GSK Turkey, Middle East and North Africa Region Vice President and Director Dr. Fabio Landazabal, Yandex Global CEO Arkady Volozh and Nasdaq President and CEO Adena Friedman besides with the star athletes such as Lukas Podolski, Wesley Sneijder and Samuel Eto’o. Following the campaign’s impact new names are still joining the list. Informing on the upcoming schedule, TİM President Büyükekşi told: “The consequent steps of the campaign designed as the conventional and digital PR domains and one-on-one business relations and networking activities. We almost completed a detailed communication plan including the prominent stakeholders in the given seven countries. Surely, the international press is one of the most prominent stakeholders. Within the media relations framework exclusive news, reports and interviews will be published in prestigious publications. Besides, there will be many other steps with the participation of our businessmen such as networking activities, bilateral business delegations and commercial events.”

WHAT DO INVESTORS SAY ABOUT TURKEY?

BNP PARIBAS BAŞKAN YARDIMCISI JEAN PAUL SABET Bnp Paribas has chosen Turkey because its major dynamic market. We are very happy with our many investment in Turkey. Turkey is considered as a growth engine. It is strategic, powerful and efficient entrepenuerial and innovative.

DANONE TÜRKIYE GENEL MÜDÜRÜ LAURENT BOISSIER, Turkey has specific position within Danone. It’s a fast developing country. We are now operating in Turkey for 20 years. We have built solid partnerships. We are now about a little bit more than 2.000 employees in Turkey working for Danone. Turkey is unique, trustworthy, and bridge between different civilization.

FIAT CHRYSLER CEO’SU SERGIO MARCHIONNE We been in Turkey for 50 years. In terms of international relationships it is the best that we have. Outside of Italy it is probably the most important local development and export hub for Fiat-Chrysler. We’ve achieved numerous and significant economic milestones over the last few years. A lot of Turkish cars are finding their way around the world. So quite happy with what’s going on.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY BAŞKAN & CEO’SU MARK FIELDS Turkey is an extremely important part of Ford Motor Company. We feel more than just being a guest. We are the number one commercial vehicle brand in Europe and we make majority of our commercial vehicles in Turkey. Turkey is a very special place. We’re extremely happy and extremely proud to be part of Turkey and it economical development.

GSK TÜRKIYE, ORTADOĞU VE KUZEY AFRIKA BÖLGESI BAŞKAN YARDIMCISI VE DIREKTÖRÜ DR. FABIO LANDAZABAL I’m delighted to be able to live in Turkey. Turkey it is a strategic country for Glaxosmithkline. As the land of diversity, hospitality and full of oppurtunities. I would be different, part of my heart would be Turkish and I will become an representative of Turkey in the world.

GENERAL ELECTRIC BAŞKAN YARDIMCISI JOHN RICE We’ve been in Turkey for over 65 years, that’s half of GE’s history. We’re a long term investor. The work that we can do with Turkish companies in other places are essential to our global success. Turkey for me, young, dynamic, innovative. We wanna be in Turkey we have to be in Turkey.

UNILEVER TÜRKIYE, ORTA ASYA VE İRAN YÖNETIM KURULU BAŞKANI HARM GOOSSENS We are really enjoying it here. Turkish people are extremely friendly. Turkey for years now have been really important market, it’s a growing market, it’s got way talented people which work now all across the world. In Turkey we invest in our brands, we invest in factories and most of all we invest in people. Turkey is very important to Unilever to start with we’ve been here longer than 100 years and for sure we will be here for another 100 years.

SAMSUNG TÜRKIYE BAŞKANI DAEHYUN KIM Turkey is very safe country that’s why I could say I’m very comfortable to stay to live here. There are many similarities between Turkey and Korea. Turkey is very dynamic country. And Turkey has high potential opportunities. Every company who sell new things, they need to come here.

VODAFONE TÜRKIYE CEO’SU COLMAN DEEGAN Vodafone is very happy to be in Turkey. The business has come a long way and has for now for 7 years just had continued growth. We have a very successful business here. It’s a great country, great market and a great industry to be involved in. Turkey is oppurtunity, energy, hospitality.