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Dear Colleagues,
I joined this great company, whose 60th anni-
versary we are celebrating today, back in 1978,
and except for a brief stint for my obligatory
military service, I have always worked here.
Special days, be they birthdays or marriage an-
niversaries, remind one of old times and pleas-
ant memories. I would like to begin this special
anniversary celebration in a similar fashion.
For many years I worked in our Contracting
Group. I was predominantly on the “sales”
side, which meant I spent most of my work
day travelling, always in a rush. On the other
hand, this allowed me to see the world and
meet different people.
I have always felt that every place I saw and
every person I met taught me something. I
made many friends both at home and abroad.
It is with great pleasure that I now remember
all I have learned thanks to my work. I tried to
maintain the same level of good relations with
my colleagues at work; it is for them to say
how successful I have been! I have always felt
among family with my colleagues, as our
spouses also joined us occasionally in our
gatherings. This “strong team” was a result of
this feeling, and I still continue to feel its
strength, which gives me confidence in the fu-
ture, like it always has.
During my busy years at the Contracting
Group, I was regretfully unable to get better
acquainted with our other groups, companies,
and naturally our friends working there. Since
2013, however, as a consequence of my new
job title, I have enjoyed much closer ties with
all our companies and more importantly with
our friends working there. This job has al-
lowed me to see how lucky we are as Tekfen.
Each of our companies is a treasure, and each
employee a gem...
This observation turned into a conviction
during the search conferences we have been
conducting with our Agri-industry and Real
Estate Development Groups where I had the
opportunity to meet and listen to my friends.
My message for our future, if there needs to
be one, would be that “We need to come to-
gether more often and get to know each other
more closely.”
Our Group has begun working on new invest-
ments in a number of areas in our 60th year.
The enthusiasm and dedication with which
this work is carried out proves that we have
passed the first test for success. I hope and be-
lieve that within five years, Tekfen Holding
will have taken great steps towards reaching
the level it deserves. This is a goal that can be
reached only if we work together. I am confi-
dent that you will provide that support.
To many decades, to many centuries!
I hope you will not forget to invite me to cele-
brations on our 75th anniversary.
OSMAN BİRGİLİ
President, Tekfen Group of Companies
ray of growth opportunities such as or-
ganomineral fertilizers, molecular biotechnol-
ogy, seed improvement, contract farming, and
pesticides. In international contracting, we
aim to double our turnover in a few years with
the new projects we have recently signed and
added to our portfolio. Increasing our engi-
neering capabilities is always one of our top
priorities. In real estate development, we will
continue to grow with bigger projects both in
Turkey and abroad, thus increasing our brand
visibility. We are also very close to finalize the
founding procedures of Tekfen Ventures, our
corporate investment company that will pro-
vide capital support to innovative enterprises
and refresh our ties to the X and Y generations.
We also have other important targets besides
figures.
In addition to searching for new business ar-
eas, we will also make changes in the planning
of our governance and continue our efforts for
corporate improvement, professionalization,
and bringing down our age average. In today’s
world, success depends on rapid perception,
quick reaction, decision-making, and the abil-
ity to renew oneself and processes. The key
words to achieve these are respect for nature
and society, sustainable growth, providing a
peaceful work environment for our employ-
ees, which will lead to higher productivity,
which in turn will eventually lead to higher
profitability.
Our goal is to make Tekfen Group one of the
top five companies where young candidates
would like to work in five years, and to make it
one of the top 10 companies of Turkey in
terms of brand value in ten years. I believe
that when we achieve these goals, commercial
success will follow suit.
We are a good company, because we have
“good” employees. We are a team that works
devotedly, takes pleasure in the work it does,
and is proud of its company. At Tekfen, we
have always striven to do the right thing in a
principled manner throughout these 60 years,
and built this fortress of respectability stone
by stone and project by project.
As I wish all of us a happy future at Tekfen, I
would also like to ask for God’s grace to be
upon the deceased members of our team who
have left us an immense legacy, and to thank
those who are with us today for their great
contribution.
I wish you the best of luck on our journey.