Attended by more than ten thousand dealers and authorized service providers, the Koç Group’s 30th traditional “Anadolu Gatherings” convention took place online this year. Addressing the meeting in a speech broadcast live from Koç Holding’s Nakkaştepe headquarters, Koç Holding Chair Ömer M. Koç said: “The Koç Group, whose foundations were laid by our late founder Vehbi Koç almost simultaneously with the Republic, will be one of the few centuries-old institutions of our country in four years. For nearly a century we have acknowledged our duty to spearhead our country’s economic and social development in line with Vehbi Koç’s dictum ‘I live and prosper with my country. As long as democracy exists and thrives, so do we.’ With the confidence afforded us by our past, with our constantly growing and improving corporate talents, and–most important of all–embracing the Republican values that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk bequeathed us, we are advancing self-assuredly towards a second century which I believe will be even more brilliant for our country and for our group. As the Koç Group we prudently manage our risks in the context of all uncertainties while focusing on our long-term objectives with a vision of the future that is both sound and bold.”
Taking the podium, Koç Holding CEO Levent Çakıroğlu said: “Despite all the difficulties we’ve been going through, as the Koç Group we have confidence in the future of our country and, taking a long-term view, we’re continuing with our investments. Whatever the conditions may be, we’re resolutely continuing to invest both in growing our business and in new products in all the sectors in which we’re active. Making use of all of the means afforded by technology, we’ll be offering personalized products and services that reach consumers more effectively and respond better to their needs. It is at this point that I especially want to emphasize that no matter how advanced technology may become, the excellence of the relationships that you establish with your own customers will always be the source of the Koç Group’s competitive strength.”
Taking the podium, Koç Holding CEO Levent Çakıroğlu said: “Despite all the difficulties we’ve been going through, as the Koç Group we have confidence in the future of our country and, taking a long-term view, we’re continuing with our investments. Whatever the conditions may be, we’re resolutely continuing to invest both in growing our business and in new products in all the sectors in which we’re active. Making use of all of the means afforded by technology, we’ll be offering personalized products and services that reach consumers more effectively and respond better to their needs. It is at this point that I especially want to emphasize that no matter how advanced technology may become, the excellence of the relationships that you establish with your own customers will always be the source of the Koç Group’s competitive strength.”
The 30th round of the traditional “Anadolu Gatherings”, a convention which the Koç Group organizes in order to exchange ideas with its domestic and international dealers and authorized service providers, took place online this year. The meeting was attended by more than 10 thousand business partners as well as by Koç Holding Board Chair Ömer M. Koç, Koç Holding CEO Levent Çakıroğlu, and Koç Holding group presidents. During a session moderated by Koç Holding Economic Research Coordinator Ahmet Çimenoğlu, Professor Refet Gürkaynak from Bilkent University Department of Economics and Dr. İbrahim Uslu, who specializes in public opinion research and political communications, assessed the current economic and political agenda.
Ömer M Koç: “Embracing the Republican values that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk bequeathed us, we are advancing self-assuredly towards a second century which I believe will be even more brilliant for our country and for our group.”
Ömer M. Koç began his remarks saying: “The Koç Group, whose foundations were laid by our late founder Vehbi Koç almost simultaneously with the Republic, will be one of the few centuries-old institutions of our country in four years. For nearly a century we have acknowledged our duty to spearhead our country’s economic and social development in line with Vehbi Koç’s dictum ‘I live and prosper with my country. As long as democracy exists and thrives, so do we.’ How happy it is then when we look back and see the imprint of the Koç Group and the efforts of our employees and of you all in the many undertakings and projects which are a part of our country’s history and which have benefited our country so much. However as I always emphasize, our fundamental success is the strong reputation we enjoy among all of our stakeholders. With the confidence afforded us by our past, with our constantly growing and improving corporate talents, and–most important of all–embracing the Republican values that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk bequeathed us, we are advancing self-assuredly towards a second century which I believe will be even more brilliant for our country and for our group.”
Commenting on global and national economic and political developments, Ömer M. Koç noted: “I want to stress that we are in a period during which we must be extremely deliberate and act with prudence in whatever we do. I especially ask you to be mindful of your expenditures, to defer any outlays that are not absolutely essential, and to keep a very close watch on your cash flow. The uncertainties whose adverse economic effects both at home and abroad are now clearly being felt unfortunately are not going away any time soon.”
“As the Koç Group we prudently manage our risks in the context of all uncertainties while focusing on our long-term objectives with a vision of the future that is both sound and bold”, Ömer M. Koç said, adding: “We’re continuing with our investments out of our faith in our country’s future. In the last five years we’ve undertaken investments worth 9.4 billion dollars. As a group, our combined revenues are the equivalent of 8% of Turkey’s national income. Our companies are responsible for 7% of our company’s export trade. Four of our country’s ten biggest companies as measured by turnover are members of the Koç Group, as are three of our country’s top exporters. Over the last ten years, the taxes we have paid as a group correspond to 7.5% of our country’s tax receipts. We are responsible for 7% of all private-sector R&D investments in Turkey and our portfolio of intellectual property rights is the country’s biggest. The combined market value of our publicly-traded companies amounts to 21% of Borsa İstanbul’s total market value. Once again, we are the only Turkish firm to make it into the Fortune Global 500 list of the world’s biggest companies. These are results in which we may certainly take pride and yet, for the Koç Group what is the most precious metric of all is the reputation that we enjoy among our stakeholders. How happy it is then that we have the pride of being cited as our country’s most trusted brand for so many years.”
Levent Çakıroğlu: “Thanks to our strong balance sheet, balanced portfolio structure, international revenue streams and risk management policies, we are resilient to economic conjunctural risks.”
Stating that he is very happy to meet with the Koç Group dealers and authorized service providers, Koç Holding CEO Levent Çakıroğlu said: “Thanks to our strong balance sheet, balanced portfolio structure, international revenue streams and risk management policies, we are resilient to economic conjunctural risks as a group. The financial results that we achieve as the product of all of our efforts are of course very important; however as Ömer Bey also emphasized, our most precious asset is the reputation we enjoy among all of our stakeholders both at home and abroad. Human resources are central to our management philosophy. Just as we’ve done every year for the last six years, we take pride in having topped the list as Turkey’s number one employer in Forbes magazine’s “World’s Best Employers” survey. On a worldwide basis, Koç Holding ranked 161st in the Forbes list. In order to make our operations more efficient in today’s competitive environment and to give our customers a better experience, we’re making effective use of such digital technologies as machine learning, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and the internet of things. As you’re aware, from the very outset we’ve regarded you, our valued dealers and services providers, as important stakeholders in our digital-transformation efforts to grow your business, to strengthen you competitively, and to increase your earnings. Our vast ecosystem, to which you are central, is the source of data which we interpret using advanced analytical methods in order to improve, transform, and redesign our business processes. Employing the power of data in our decision-making processes, we’re able to focus on the right issues.”
Levent Çakıroğlu: “Despite all the difficulties we’ve been going through, as the Koç Group we have confidence in the future of our country and, taking a long-term view, we’re continuing with our investments.
Levent Çakıroğlu continued his remarks: “Despite all the difficulties we’ve been going through, as the Koç Group we have confidence in the future of our country and, taking a long-term view, we’re continuing with our investments. Whatever the conditions may be, we’re resolutely continuing to invest both in growing our business and in new products in all the sectors in which we’re active. Making use of all of the means afforded by technology, we’ll be offering personalized products and services that reach consumers more effectively and respond better to their needs. It is at this point that I especially want to emphasize that no matter how advanced technology may become, the excellence of the relationships that you establish with your own customers will always be the source of the Koç Group’s competitive strength. Working together with you, we will strengthen our brands even more. I acutely call on you to ensure that your sons and daughters–the next generation that will take over the businesses that you so successfully conducted–are adequately prepared to do so. I expect you to focus even more on your business and to devote your resources to those areas that you know best, which is to say to your core business activities. We give great importance to exchanging views and opinions with you. So I’d like to remind you that our interactions aren’t just limited to these gatherings and that our door is always open to you all.”
Ömer M Koç: “Embracing the Republican values that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk bequeathed us, we are advancing self-assuredly towards a second century which I believe will be even more brilliant for our country and for our group.”
Ömer M. Koç began his remarks saying: “The Koç Group, whose foundations were laid by our late founder Vehbi Koç almost simultaneously with the Republic, will be one of the few centuries-old institutions of our country in four years. For nearly a century we have acknowledged our duty to spearhead our country’s economic and social development in line with Vehbi Koç’s dictum ‘I live and prosper with my country. As long as democracy exists and thrives, so do we.’ How happy it is then when we look back and see the imprint of the Koç Group and the efforts of our employees and of you all in the many undertakings and projects which are a part of our country’s history and which have benefited our country so much. However as I always emphasize, our fundamental success is the strong reputation we enjoy among all of our stakeholders. With the confidence afforded us by our past, with our constantly growing and improving corporate talents, and–most important of all–embracing the Republican values that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk bequeathed us, we are advancing self-assuredly towards a second century which I believe will be even more brilliant for our country and for our group.”
Commenting on global and national economic and political developments, Ömer M. Koç noted: “I want to stress that we are in a period during which we must be extremely deliberate and act with prudence in whatever we do. I especially ask you to be mindful of your expenditures, to defer any outlays that are not absolutely essential, and to keep a very close watch on your cash flow. The uncertainties whose adverse economic effects both at home and abroad are now clearly being felt unfortunately are not going away any time soon.”
“As the Koç Group we prudently manage our risks in the context of all uncertainties while focusing on our long-term objectives with a vision of the future that is both sound and bold”, Ömer M. Koç said, adding: “We’re continuing with our investments out of our faith in our country’s future. In the last five years we’ve undertaken investments worth 9.4 billion dollars. As a group, our combined revenues are the equivalent of 8% of Turkey’s national income. Our companies are responsible for 7% of our company’s export trade. Four of our country’s ten biggest companies as measured by turnover are members of the Koç Group, as are three of our country’s top exporters. Over the last ten years, the taxes we have paid as a group correspond to 7.5% of our country’s tax receipts. We are responsible for 7% of all private-sector R&D investments in Turkey and our portfolio of intellectual property rights is the country’s biggest. The combined market value of our publicly-traded companies amounts to 21% of Borsa İstanbul’s total market value. Once again, we are the only Turkish firm to make it into the Fortune Global 500 list of the world’s biggest companies. These are results in which we may certainly take pride and yet, for the Koç Group what is the most precious metric of all is the reputation that we enjoy among our stakeholders. How happy it is then that we have the pride of being cited as our country’s most trusted brand for so many years.”
Levent Çakıroğlu: “Thanks to our strong balance sheet, balanced portfolio structure, international revenue streams and risk management policies, we are resilient to economic conjunctural risks.”
Stating that he is very happy to meet with the Koç Group dealers and authorized service providers, Koç Holding CEO Levent Çakıroğlu said: “Thanks to our strong balance sheet, balanced portfolio structure, international revenue streams and risk management policies, we are resilient to economic conjunctural risks as a group. The financial results that we achieve as the product of all of our efforts are of course very important; however as Ömer Bey also emphasized, our most precious asset is the reputation we enjoy among all of our stakeholders both at home and abroad. Human resources are central to our management philosophy. Just as we’ve done every year for the last six years, we take pride in having topped the list as Turkey’s number one employer in Forbes magazine’s “World’s Best Employers” survey. On a worldwide basis, Koç Holding ranked 161st in the Forbes list. In order to make our operations more efficient in today’s competitive environment and to give our customers a better experience, we’re making effective use of such digital technologies as machine learning, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and the internet of things. As you’re aware, from the very outset we’ve regarded you, our valued dealers and services providers, as important stakeholders in our digital-transformation efforts to grow your business, to strengthen you competitively, and to increase your earnings. Our vast ecosystem, to which you are central, is the source of data which we interpret using advanced analytical methods in order to improve, transform, and redesign our business processes. Employing the power of data in our decision-making processes, we’re able to focus on the right issues.”
Levent Çakıroğlu: “Despite all the difficulties we’ve been going through, as the Koç Group we have confidence in the future of our country and, taking a long-term view, we’re continuing with our investments.
Levent Çakıroğlu continued his remarks: “Despite all the difficulties we’ve been going through, as the Koç Group we have confidence in the future of our country and, taking a long-term view, we’re continuing with our investments. Whatever the conditions may be, we’re resolutely continuing to invest both in growing our business and in new products in all the sectors in which we’re active. Making use of all of the means afforded by technology, we’ll be offering personalized products and services that reach consumers more effectively and respond better to their needs. It is at this point that I especially want to emphasize that no matter how advanced technology may become, the excellence of the relationships that you establish with your own customers will always be the source of the Koç Group’s competitive strength. Working together with you, we will strengthen our brands even more. I acutely call on you to ensure that your sons and daughters–the next generation that will take over the businesses that you so successfully conducted–are adequately prepared to do so. I expect you to focus even more on your business and to devote your resources to those areas that you know best, which is to say to your core business activities. We give great importance to exchanging views and opinions with you. So I’d like to remind you that our interactions aren’t just limited to these gatherings and that our door is always open to you all.”