Turkey launches campaign to attract global investment

ISTANBUL

Turkey has launched a year-long 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.

In remarks made at the launch of the campaign in Istanbul Monday, Mehmet Buyukeksi, chairman of Turkish Exporters Assembly, said: "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, whose motto is ‘Come to Turkey, discover your own story’."

"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."

Buyukeksi added that leading players from various sectors, including communication, pharmacy, and banking will take part in the campaign and share their experiences.

He also said the speeches of CEOs have been recorded as part of commercial videos that will be aired several television channels in Germany, the U.S., France, the U.K., Italy, Russia and United Arab Emirate, and on social media.

Speaking at the same launch 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, Fabrizio Guidi, general manager of Sanofi Turkey, said: "You find a lot of skilled people here, who are willing to create a brighter future in Turkey."

Peter Catalino, president of Novartis Turkey, said the company has been investing in Turkey since because they believe in Turkey and its people.

Terrorist organizations, including the PKK and Fetullah Terrorist Organization have targeted Turkey through black propaganda campaigns, according to Turkish authorities.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU -- resumed its decades-old armed campaign in the country in July 2015.

Since then, more than 1,200 victims, including security personnel and civilians, have lost their lives in PKK attacks since the terror group resumed its decades-long campaign against the Turkish state.

On July 15, 2016, sections of the Turkish military attempted to overthrow the government. Pro-coup soldiers linked to Terrorist Organization (FETO) opened fire on civilians in Ankara and Istanbul. Hundreds of people took to the streets to protest. Turkey’s parliament building, as well as many other state institutions, were also hit by airstrikes.

The coup attempt, which was defeated in less than 24 hours, resulted in the deaths of 249 people and led to thousands of injuries.

*Reporting by Ali Atar, Ugur and Gokhan Yildiz; Writing by Dilara Zengin, Tuba Sahin