153 BUSINESS COUNCILS ON THE WORLD STAGE: DEIK’S JOURNEY

Bringing together the dynamism of the private sector with diplomacy, DEİK has been supporting the international expansion of the business world for 40 years; it brings Turkish companies to the world stage with 153 business councils

In the 1980s, as Türkiye transitioned to an export-driven growth model, it needed not only a strong production infrastructure but also effective representation in interna tional markets. During this period, Prime Minister Turgut Özal’s visionary approach brought to the fore the idea of bringing the business world’s foreign relations under a single umbrella. Launched in 1985 under the umbrella of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), DEIK thus became the institutional face of Turkish business as it opened up to the outside world.

Shortly after its establishment, DEIK launched its first busi ness councils in 1985, bringing Turkish businesspeople into direct contact with their counterparts in foreign countries.

These councils laid the foundations not only for commercial relations but also for lasting business partnerships based on mutual trust. Promoting Turkish brands abroad, trade delegations, investment forums, and bilateral business meetings became indispensable activities for DEIK from those years onwards.

Over time, DEIK’s mission expanded further. With the law enacted in 2014, it separated from TOBB and became an independent structure. This transformation made DEIK the most comprehensive and powerful organization in the global expansion of the Turkish private sector. Currently operating with 153 Business Councils, DEIK has become the most important representative of the business world in the field of “business diplomacy.”

Looking back today, the story of DEIK’s establishment reflects not only the birth of an institution but also the institutional reflection of Türkiye’s journey of opening up to the world. Bringing together the dynamism of the private sector with diplomacy, DEIK has continued to be a bridge guiding the Turkish business world on a global scale for 40 years.