DEIK: TURKIYE’S 40-YEAR PARTNER IN ITS OPEN GROWTH STRATEGY

Established in the 1980s alongside an outward-oriented growth strategy to enhance the effectiveness of our businesspeople in global markets, DEİK has spent 40 years aligning Türkiye’s international vision with the demands of the business world through business diplomacy

In the early 1980s, with the abandonment of the import substi tution growth strategy and the implementation of an outward-oriented growth strategy in our country, there was a need for an institutional structure that would enable our businesspeople to play a more effective role in foreign markets, access new opportunities, and increase their global competitiveness.

To meet this need, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), the professional umbrella organization and legal representative of the Turkish private sector, took an important and timely step by establishing the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) in 1986 with a board of directors decision.

DEIK has taken on the role of a bridge connecting the demands of our business world with our country’s international vision.

DEIK began conducting its activities through country-based (bilateral) business councils. The Turkish side of the business councils was formed by TOBB, while the counterpart in the other countries was formed by the Chambers of Industry and Commerce of the relevant countries, with a few exceptions.

The work DEIK initiated with countries such as the USA, Japan, the UK, France, and the USSR made our country visible and effective across a wide geography, from Central Asia to Africa, Latin America to Southeast Asia, starting in the early 1990s.

Subsequently, with the inclusion of DEIK in Law No. 5174 on the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye, which came into force in 2004, DEIK became a business organization mentioned in the law.

In line with TOBB’s strategy of actively participating in international trade and industry chambers since the early 2000s, starting in 2009, it has held the position of Vice President in prominent organizations such as the European Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (EUROCHAMBRES), the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Develop ment (ICCD), and the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI). This has not only made DEIK, whose presidency is held by the TOBB President, more recognized globally, but also enhanced its prestige and expanded its scope of action.

Likewise, DEIK, which continuously expands its sphere of influence, established the World Turkish Business Council (DTIK) in 2007, in addition to the country business councils within its structure. This council brings together Turkish employers and professionals with clean records from all over the world, regardless of their worldviews, under one roof. It has been a very important organization in strengthening the Turkish business diaspora’s ties with each other and with Türkiye, as well as raising awareness in their countries of residence.

In this field, significant steps were taken to establish a broad diaspora network spanning the entire world by organizing the World Turkish Entrepreneurs Congresses at regular intervals, which have become a tradition, and by establishing regional, national, and city representatives through the World Turkish Entrepreneurs Association (DTIK).

Similarly, during the same period, DEIK’s establishment of sectoral business councils increased the ability of Turkish companies operating in the same field to cluster and act jointly at the national and international levels.

DEIK’s service area spread across Anatolia by establishing DEIK representative offices in local chambers and stock exchanges operating under the umbrella of TOBB.

By keeping the door open for founding organizations, DEIK created synergy by incorporating business organizations operating in different sectors in Türkiye.

The high-quality work carried out through these expanded relationships and cooperation networks, built on unity and solidarity, has been recorded as a set of activities in line with DEIK’s historic mission in accordance with our country’s outward-looking growth strategy.

Everyone who contributed to DEIK, from its professional staff to its members, from its founding organizations to the business people who volunteered to serve on its business councils and boards of directors, deserves a big thank you.