“On July 10, 2013, LASİAD (Association of Anatolian Industrialists and Businessmen) organized its traditional iftar event at Sheraton Hotel in Ataköy.
The iftar dinner, accompanied by Sufi music, was attended by various dignitaries and officials, including the EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bağış. Other notable attendees included Istanbul Deputy Governors İ. Hayrullah Sun and Kazım Tekin, AK Party Fatih District Chairman Ahmet Hamdi Görk, AK Party Fatih District Vice Chairman Şenol Özdemir, Fatih Mayor Mustafa Demir, İTHİB (Istanbul Textile and Raw Materials Exporters Association) President İsmail Gülle, TIM (Turkish Exporters Assembly) Acting President Ahmet Akbalık, İHKİB (Istanbul Apparel Exporters’ Association) Vice President Kemalettin Güneş, İHKİB Board Member Sabri Sami Yılmaz, Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) 19th Term Assembly President Şekib Avdagiç, ITO 19th Term Board Member Servet Samsama, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Istanbul Alexander Hapilov, Economic Attaché of the Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Istanbul Ali Tusi, ASKON (Anatolian Lions Businessmen Association) Textile Sector President Nesim Ayyıldız, BATİAD (Bayrampaşa Textile and Industrialists Businessmen Association) President Aydın Erten, ÇSD (Chamber of Shipping) President Hüseyin Öztürk, FAGİDER (Ceramic Sanitaryware Manufacturers Association) President Ayla Erdim, KYSD (Turkish Shipbuilders’ Association) Vice President Hacı Turan Yolcu, MESİAD (Metal Industrialists and Businessmen Association) President Halit Tuna, OTİAD (Textile Industrialists and Businessmen Association) President Ali Ulvi Orhan, ÖRSAD (Association of Russian Speaking Businessmen) President Fikri Kurt, TİGSAD (Turkish Association of Construction Material Producers) President İrfan Özhamaratlı, TRİSAD (Turkish Cement Manufacturers’ Association) President Mustafa Balkuv, TÜGİAD (Young Businessmen Association) President Özden Pelister, TÜMSİAD (Association of Independent Industrialists and Businessmen) Vice President Yakup Köç, LASİAD Board Members, LASİAD Members, and many other invited guests.”
“We Will Strengthen Further When We Are Together”
LASİAD (Association of Anatolian Industrialists and Businessmen) Board Chairman Giyasettin Eyyüpkoca, delivering the opening speech of the iftar dinner, expressed the meaningful purpose of LASİAD’s establishment, stating, “In those years, the difficulties experienced in Turkey, as well as the challenges in our trade with neighboring countries, were addressed through the activities of our association, acting as a bridge. We are an association established with the aim of building bridges, both to establish connections between institutions and craftsmen in Turkey and to address and find solutions to the difficulties experienced in Russia and similar countries where we operate.”
Eyyüpkoca continued his words, “Recent events that seriously damaged our image globally, unfortunately, have inflicted wounds that are difficult to heal in our country’s dynamics. Besides an estimated loss of 36 to 40 billion dollars in terms of trade, our tourism sector has also been significantly affected by these events. Many of our guests who planned to visit our country for various purposes unfortunately canceled their trips due to these events. While the return to normal was expected to take one or two months at best, these developments have unfortunately dealt a severe blow to our economy within delicate balances. It is strange that, as the advocates of greenery, nature, and cultural and historical values, we, who hold the utmost respect for these aspects, find ourselves at the forefront of those who feel the damages inflicted on our country by these events turning into violence in different arenas. Our hope is that our country will soon witness days when understanding and mutual empathy prevail in expressing and meeting demands, and we will not waste time with meaningless internal conflicts. Despite everything, I wish this beautiful evening, illuminated by the radiant lights of Ramadan, brings peace, tranquility, and brotherhood to our country and the whole world.”
“LASİAD Members are Like Our Ambassadors”
Egemen Bağış, who participated in the program, addressed topics related to Ramadan and the current agenda. Bağış began his speech by conveying greetings from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Emphasizing the special importance the Prime Minister attaches to LASİAD, Bağış stated that the association makes a significant contribution to the economy. The Minister of EU Affairs noted that LASİAD, besides establishing a mechanism to meet with its members, also possesses qualities such as focusing on the needs of those in its surroundings, and actively contributing to solving their problems.
Bağış continued his speech: “LASİAD is truly playing a significant role in opening Istanbul, which is undoubtedly the most beautiful city in the world, to the world. LASİAD members establish contacts with various parts of the world like our ambassadors. Today, there is no geography where LASİAD does not engage in trade. It has demonstrated the potential to expand to Europe, Asia, and the Americas. We are truly very happy to have such an association. Today, there are our brothers who cannot experience the excitement of Ramadan like us. Our brothers are in trouble in Gaza, Egypt, and Arakan. I know that the members of the association also share the concerns of their brothers there. I believe they will make every effort for them.”
Pointing out that attempts were made to create discord between brothers in Turkey but failed, Bağış said, “Wherever in the world there is the oppression of the oppressor, Turkey hears the cries against tyranny. That’s why we hear the cries from Syria today.”
Istanbul Deputy Governor İbrahim Hayrullah Sun expressed their appreciation for LASİAD’s efforts, stating, “LASİAD constantly accomplishes beauties. As a non-governmental organization, as an association, it collaborates with the municipality to build roads, streets. It organizes festivals. It engraves Laleli and all its beauties in our minds. I thank you thousands of times.”
Mayor of Fatih Mustafa Demir, in his speech, talked about the significance of Ramadan and LASİAD’s working principles, saying, “I have been the Mayor for 9 years. Non-governmental organizations and associations have done more than their fair share. LASİAD has surpassed itself in these matters, so to speak, it has flown. If it weren’t for LASİAD, lower Laleli would not be like this today; if it weren’t for LASİAD, upper Laleli would not be like this today; if it weren’t for LASİAD, Sultan Hamam would not be like this today; if it weren’t for LASİAD, Tahtakale would not be like this today; if it weren’t for LASİAD, Sultanahmet would not be like this today. Public resources are very limited, and if the public does not support, even if you make the roads and the parks under the roads from silver, it would not mean anything. LASİAD has set an example for everyone in this regard.”
