The High Advisory Board of the World Turkish Business Council (Dunya Turk Is Konseyi-DTIK) met in Istanbul on June 7. DTIK is an initiative by the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey - DEIK, an independent non-governmental organization, and is chaired by Mr.Rifat Hisarciklioglu, Chairman of DEIK and the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey - TOBB. The meeting was led by Mr.Hisarciklioglu and Muhtar Kent, CEO of Coca Cola. TCA Chairman Dr.Yalcin Ayasli also serves on the High Advisory Board and participated in the meeting.
After the meeting, the Board held a press conference where Mr.Hisarciklioglu announced that several key decisions and a time table were adopted for the work ahead. They included selecting city-based representatives of female, as well as young entrepreneurs in the Turkish diaspora with the goal of reaching 2,000 representatives in more than 100 countries over the next 2 years; establishing a “Diaspora Franchise Platform” to connect Turkish brands with Turkish diaspora entrepreneurs; encouraging Turkish diaspora studies at universities and think-tanks; providing scholarships to 50-100 Turkish diaspora students annually for education and internships in Turkey; instituting a “Turkish Diaspora Award” that will recognize successful entrepreneurs, female entrepreneurs, young entrepreneurs, executives, and leaders in culture and art every year; organizing regional diaspora summits, and providing institutional image templates to Turkish restaurants.
Speaking at the conference, Mr.Muhtar Kent stated that DTIK had come a considerable distance in the 2.5 years since it was established. Noting that the purpose of DTIK was to lift the Turks and Turkey “brand” abroad, Mr.Kent underscored that DTIK was designed to enhance communication among Diaspora Turks and strengthen their ties with Turkey.
DTIK consists of various regional committees, including an Americas Regional Committee, tasked to provide input to the DTIK mission and help expand awareness on DTIK in the Americas. Turkish businesspersons and executives residing abroad can become part of the DTIK network by joining its membership. Members are entitled to participate in the DTIK Summit and participate in the elections for the regional committees.
