Turkish Business Forum Launches Activities
By Alpaslan Düven/LONDON – Established to strengthen commercial and economic ties between Türkiye and the United Kingdom and to position the Turkish business community more competitively in the global marketplace, the Turkish Business Forum officially launched on 11 February with a high-level diplomacy and business reception in London.
Held in the heart of the capital, the inauguration brought together diplomatic representatives from the Republic of Türkiye, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and Azerbaijan, alongside more than 100 industry leaders—sending a strong signal of intent to increase bilateral trade volume between the two countries.
Diplomacy and Business United Around a Common Vision
Conducted in accordance with diplomatic protocol, the ceremony welcomed distinguished guests including H.E. Osman Koray Ertaş, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to London; H.E. Aysan Mullahasan Atılgan, Representative of the TRNC in London; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hasan Ulusoy, Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in London; Mr. Rashad Vahabzade, Minister-Counsellor of the Embassy of Azerbaijan; and Mr. Eltay Aslanov, Chief of Staff.
The diplomatic representatives underscored the Forum’s potential contribution to strengthening the strategic and economic partnership between the two nations.
A Strategic Bridge to Global Markets
The Turkish Business Forum is not merely a networking platform; it has been founded with the vision of becoming a hub for sustainable growth, innovation, and strategic collaboration between Turkish and British enterprises.
Hosting the event, Board Members Alaattin Çağıl, Ali Fuat Gürlen, Burcu Sarıca Türk, Dr. Murat Dağıtmaç, Dr. Talha Öcal, Erkan Tepeköy, Erdem Kömürcü, Gülender Samut, Kemal Ulun, Mustafa Kayırıcı, Okan Yıldız, Osman Turan Bilgiç, Zafer Çalış, and Yağmur Şimşek summarised the Forum’s mission as follows:
“Our primary objective is to enhance the global visibility of Turkish businesspeople and to build strong, organic ties with the UK business community. By equipping our members with sector-specific knowledge, market intelligence, and high-quality networks, we aim to foster not only commercial success but also a cultural and strategic partnership.”
Strong Support from Industry Leaders
More than 100 prominent business leaders from various sectors attended the event. Participants agreed that the Forum’s practical support—ranging from trade facilitation and education to consultancy and sectoral guidance—marks the beginning of a new era for Turkish entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom.
About the Turkish Business Forum
The Turkish Business Forum was established with the vision of becoming the leading representative platform for the Turkish business community in the United Kingdom. With a mission to support global success through effective networking, knowledge sharing, and strategic partnerships, the Forum develops initiatives that promote bilateral cooperation and sustainable growth between the two countries.