InFocus Turkey 2018 by Diplomacy&Commerce magazine

Turkey 2018

A SUPERPOWER IS BORN H.E. MUSTAFA BABÜR HIZLAN Turkish Ambassador to Croatia

HAŞIM KOÇ

Coordinator at the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA)

IVAN BARBARIĆ

Vice President of the Croatian Chamber of Economy in charge of International and EU Affairs

SANTA WAS FROM HERE St. Nicholas, known as Santa Claus or Father Christmas today, was born and lived in Demre (Myra) on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast.

NOAH AND HIS ARK Many archaeologists and biblical scholars believe Noah’s Ark landed on Agri Dagi Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey.

KAHVE, PLEASE!

Turks introduced coffee to Europe. It happened through Venice, Vienna and the Balkans, hence the three distinct types of coffee making.

THE LAND OF WANDERS Two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World stood in Turkey-the temple of Artemis at Ephesus and the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus in Bodrum.

Focus

TURKEY 2018

ONE CITY, TWO CONTINENTS

Istanbul is the only city in the world located on two continents, Europe and Asia. In its 2,000 year history, it has been the capital of three great empires—Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman.

CHURCHES OF THE APOCALYPSE

The Seven Churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation are all found in Turkey: Ephesus, Smyrna, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

IT ALL STARTED HERE!

The oldest known human settlement in the world is located in Catalhoyuk, Turkey, dating back to 6500 B.C. The earliest landscape painting in history was found on the wall of a Catalhoyuk house, illustrating the volcanic eruption of nearby Hasandag.

TURQUOISE IS TURKISH!

The word “turquoise” comes from “Turk” meaning Turkish, and was derived from the beautiful colour of the Mediterranean Sea on the southern Turkish coast.

TURKEY 2018

Focus

EXCELLENT PARTNERSHIP Building upon historical and cultural ties, Turkey and Croatia have excellent bilateral relations today and share interest in the prosperity of the region. The good communication between the political leaders is followed by a growing interest in trade and cultural exchange

INTERVIEW

H.E. MUSTAFA BABÜR HIZLAN Turkish Ambassador to Croatia

oon after it gained its independence, Croatia became an important partner and ally of Turkey. Since then, the bilateral relations have an upward dynamic while businesses are following suit, says H.E. Mr. Mustafa Babür Hızlan. Before he was appointed the Turkish Ambassador to Croatia, our interlocutor was the head of the Directorate General for the Balkans and Central Europe. We talked with him about the mutual interest of Turkey and Croatia for the region, as well as bilateral issues.

How much is Turkey focusing on this part of Europe today? — Turkey is a part of the Balkans itself. In other words, we are not an outsider that has to watch the region through binoculars which need to be focused. Historical, social and cultural ties also bind Turkey closely with the region. There are Turkish minorities and communities as well as kin communities in the Balkan countries. On the other hand, there are millions of Turkish citizens of Balkan-origin in Turkey. Thus, the region has always been at the very center of the Turkish foreign policy. Maintaining stability and increasing prosperity in the region have always been

Focus

TURKEY 2018

the number one priority for Turkey. Turkey provides assistance to the countries of the region and supports many development projects. Only in the first two months of 2018, four Presidential and two Prime Ministerial visits were realized to Turkey from the countries of South East Europe. Turkey considers integration of all the countries of the region into the European and Euro-Atlantic institutions necessary, and continues to support their efforts in this direction. One of the most concrete examples of Turkey’s contribution to good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation are the trilateral consultation mechanisms founded following our initiative – namely Turkey-Bosnia Herzegovina-Serbia and Turkey-Bosnia Herzegovina-Croatia. Turkey contributes to all international presences and initiatives in the region. We are also a founding member of the South East Europe Cooperation Process.

Croatia’s president has recently visited Turkey, with another visit planned. How would you rate the political relations between the two countries and are there any unresolved issues? What is

the potential for further development of bilateral relations with Croatia, as an EU member? — Turkey was among the first countries to recognize the independence of Croatia. Building upon our historical and cultural ties, we have established an excellent level of relations in a short period of time. Today, Croatia is an important partner and ally of Turkey. We have a problem-free agenda and our political leaders have a good communication. Mutual visits are taking place on a regular basis which helps us to focus on further cooperation possibilities. Economic and trade relations are also developing. Turkish investments in Croatia have gained momentum in the last few years. There is an increasing interest which needs to be cultivated. Turkey and Croatia have been actively joining their efforts on maintaining peace in the region. We are working together in the South East Europe Cooperation Process. The Turkey-Croatia-Bosnia Herzegovina trilateral mechanism is another political instrument through which we contribute together towards the regional cooperation efforts. The relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and preserving peace and stability

in that country are one of the strategic issues for both Turkey and Croatia. What is your assessment of the current situation in that country, given the impact and interest that both Turkey and Croatia there? — In the 1990s, the South East Europe had to live through destructive wars, genocide and ethnic cleansing. Today, thankfully, we cannot talk about a turbulence in the region. But still, as you have well stated, it remains essential to preserve regional peace and stability. In this sense, it is in our common interest to see Bosnia and Herzegovina progress and prosper. We closely follow the reform process which will make the country more stable and pave the way for its Euro-Atlantic integration. Elections are currently the number one issue on the agenda. On all contentious issues, we encourage constructive dialogue. In the economic terms, there is also a lot that needs to be done for a prosperous Bosnia and Herzegovina. That is why we strive for further increase in our trade volume and investments there. We also continue to provide development assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina through various Turkish institutions. Turkish investors have been showing more interest in investing in Croatia. How many Turkish companies operate in Croatia today and what is their view of the business conditions here? — There are about twenty large Turkish investors operating in Croatia in tourism, transportation, banking and energy sectors. The total value of the investments made by Turkish companies is estimated at approximately 400 million euro (according to the

Croatian Central Bank, between 1993 and 2017, the value was 212.6 million euro). In early years, Turkish investments were primarily concentrated in tourism and finance sectors. However, in recent years, Turkish investments have diversified. For example, we have two investors from Turkey in renewable energy sector. One of the leading airport operators in Turkey and worldwide is one of the partners in Zagreb Airport Consortium. Food and beverage services at the Zagreb Airport are also provided by a Turkish company. Port management is another area that Turkish companies are interested in.

MAINTAINING STABILITY AND INCREASING PROSPERITY IN THE REGION HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR TURKEY In addition to the large investors, certain entrepreneurs are also active in the retail sales segment of ready-to-wear products, home furniture, cosmetics, food, hardware and construction materials. Our investors have seen the potential and opportunities of the Croatian economy. They are ready and able to face the challenges all the other companies may face.

How much can Turkish investments increase and what are the potential investors from Turkey interested in? — The recovery of Croatian economy post-

2015 and the boom in tourism sector in the last several years, have all bolstered the interest of Turkish investors. Some areas considered for further investments are tourism, logistics, transportation, renewable energy, health care and agricultural projects. There is also a growing interest of our construction companies for the projects her, in Croatia. Some of our big contractors are participating in the major tenders in Croatia.

What is the cultural and scientific cooperation between Croatia and Turkey like at the moment? — In line with the good political and economic relations, cooperation in the fields of culture and science has also been growing. Under the umbrella of the Embassy we have opened the Yunus Emre Cultural Center in Zagreb two years ago. The Center offers free Turkish language courses, and realizes various activities with the view of introducing the Turkish culture to the people of Croatia. The Turkology Chair at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Zagreb University and the Croatian-Turkish Friendship Society also make valuable contributions to our cooperation in the field of culture. In terms of the scientific cooperation, the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey and the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports established a direct collaboration following the signing of a cooperation protocol in 2014. This protocol enables cooperation projects for scientists and exchange programmes. Partnerships between universities are also growing on a daily basis with the EU exchange programmes playing the crucial role in this regard.

INVESTORS

THE RECOVERY OF CROATIAN ECONOMY POST-2015 AND THE BOOM IN TOURISM SECTOR IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, HAVE ALL BOLSTERED THE INTEREST OF TURKISH INVESTORS TURKEY 2018

Focus

EDUCATION IS KEY TO BETTER LIFE

For us, Croatia is a country of friendship. Hence, through our projects, we want to contribute to our good bilateral relations, improve lives of our beneficiaries, and bring smile to their faces

INTERVIEW

HAŞIM KOÇ

Coordinator at the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA)

IKA's office opened on 1st March, 2016 and since then, has been operating under the Turkish Embassy in Zagreb. During the past two years, TIKA's activities have helped Turkey and Croatia to rediscover a deep common heritage.

What are your priorities for 2018 and how do you go about making decisions on which activities and people to help? — During the two years since our inception, we have always tried to set up a profound basis for the collaboration with our Croatian project partners, which are usually public institutions or NGOs. In all of our joint projects implemented with our partners, we are trying to pinpoint the real needs of the people and society in Croatia, and therefore, we are trying to find out from our Croatian partners as much as possible about these needs and necessities. After they inform us of the project topic, we visit the project location and get acquainted with the conditions there. In Croatia, we want to contribute to the good bilateral relations between two countries. Our contribution will be made through the project-based cooperation in several sectors. This year, our prior-

Focus

TURKEY 2018

ity sector will be education, just like in the last two years. However, this year, we will specifically focus on the segments of education relating to special needs. In all the projects that we are implementing, we want to touch the lives of our project beneficiaries, who will have a better life as a result of our projects.

What are TIKA's long-term goals in Croatia in the segments of academic mobility, cultural cooperation and technology transfer? — Turkey and Croatia have a deep common heritage which has been somehow forgotten during the 20th century due to many

OUR FOCUS IS ON PROVIDING CHILDREN WITH BETTER EDUCATION, WHILE THIS YEAR, THE SPECIAL FOCUS WILL BE ON CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

different factors. In the long run, we want these two nations to remember this deep common heritage and grow closer in an harmonius way with the cultural affinity that the Croatian and Turkish people already have. In order to reach these goals, the academia, cultural actors and scientific-technological producers need to establish a long-term, sustainable cooperations as an inevitable deed. Thus, TIKA also aims to establish academic cooperation, launch cultural programmes between equivalent institutions and expedite the scientific collaboration between the Turkish and Croatian scientists.

What is your focus in terms of the development component of TIKA's activities in Croatia? — In these last two years, education has been our primary focus. We implemented various projects in order to facilitate a better education for the children in Croatia because we know that many problems in the world will be solved if children are given a better education. In the education segment, we also want to put more emphasis on the field of educating children with special needs because of the vulnerability of these groups. We already had a meeting with the Ministry

of Science and Education and we are continuing with our efforts to find which educational framework and facilities for these vulnerable groups we could enhance.

How did the opening of TIKA's office contribute to the greater visibility of the Agency's work? — TIKA's concern for Croatia has started after the Gunja disaster which took place in May 2014. Following the implementation of a restoration project and an agricultural development programme, consisting of two projects, 50 families in Gunja were given greenhouses, and other 50 families were given with two breeding Simmental cows each. After the implementation of these projects, we noticed a mutual interest developing, hence TIKA decided to open its office in Croatia, a third EU country after Hungary and Romania. I was appointed to work at the Zagreb office. In the last two years, TIKA's office in Zagreb has been trying to reach every corner of the country and identify collaboration policies and technical development assistance strategy in Croatia. I think that, with the projects we implemented so far, TIKA has reached an interesting visibility in Croatia. The sectoral and regional distribution of our projects is large and therefore, geographically and thematically, through our projects we have reached and touched people from different cities and different segments. TIKA is involved in numerous humanitarian projects. Can you single out the most significant? — We have been involved in many projects implemented in Croatia. It is not easy to differentiate one from other, but if you are asking me to single out my favourites, I would say donating a technological device

to SUVAG Polyclinic which was one of the most significant projects due to the fact that hi-tech eye tracking device, that tracks pupil’s movements, is the only device in the entire region that is used for rehabilitation, and this is not my claim, but the claim made by SUVAG's director. Also, I think that our contribution to the nurseries in Vrbovec, Rijeka, and Sisak are very important because kids in those pre-school education institutions now have much better educational

IN THE LONG RUN, WE WANT THESE TWO NATIONS TO REMEMBER THIS DEEP COMMON HERITAGE AND GROW CLOSER IN AN HARMONIUS WAY WITH THE CULTURAL AFFINITY opportunities. Last but not least, I would also like to mention our project with the Association of the Blind Persons in Zagreb. The Association has already started implementing the project called Soaps with Dots where they produce hand-made souvenir soaps. Thanks to this project, one visually impared person has already found employment. After we conducted an analysis of that project, together with our project partners, we decided to increase the production capacity and provided support in acquiring new equipment for production of liquid soap. As a result, 12 people, in both production and marketing department, will be employed in this project. We are happy

that we were able to contribute to such a lovely project.

At the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Turkey last year, the Cultural-Information Centre of the Croatian-Turkish Friendship Association was officially opened with the help of TIKA and the City of Zagreb. Why is this Centre important? — Turkey is one of the first countries which recognized Croatian independence in 1992. Since then, the relations between Turkey and Croatia have evolved from good to best. For us, Croatia is not any country, but a friendly country, a country of friendship. And this friendship between Croatia and Turkey has always been vibrant also thanks to the activities of the Croatian-Turkish Friendship Association. The Association's main role, in the recent history, was very important, and therefore we would like to thank our Croatian friends who kept the relationship between two countries going via their activities under the framework of Friendship Association. Despite the cultural affinities that the Croatian and Turkish people have, unfortunately both societies don't know much about each other. The Cultural-Information Center could bridge this gap through organizing important events and activities. To be honest, it was really a planned „coincidence“ that the opening ceremony fell on the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relationship between two countries. In this way, TIKA wanted to share its excitement for being in Croatia and thank all the former and current members of the Croatian-Turkish Friendship Association for their efforts in building bridges between Turkey and Croatia.

THE RELATIONS

TURKEY IS ONE OF THE FIRST COUNTRIES WHICH RECOGNIZED CROATIAN INDEPENDENCE IN 1992. SINCE THEN, THE RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND CROATIA HAVE EVOLVED FROM GOOD TO BEST TURKEY 2018

Focus

GREAT INTEREST IN COOPERATION

Given that Turkey is a major and important market, the activities of the Croatian Chamber of Economy (HGK) are focused on improving foreign trade cooperation, primarily through investments. Considering the potential, achieving one billion euros worth of external exchange is not an unrealistic goal

INTERVIEW

IVAN BARBARIĆ

Vice President of the Croatian Chamber of Economy in charge of International and EU Affairs

lans for the opening of a Croatian Chamber of Economy's representative office in Istanbul are in the final stage, and this will certainly boost the economic cooperation between the two countries - says Ivan Barbarić, the Vice President of the Croatian Chamber of Economy in charge of International and EU affairs.

Turkish investments in Croatia amounted to less than one percent of total investments in Croatia in 2016, but both countries recognize the great potential for expanding the existing co-operation. How much has been done in this respect in the previous period? — In the period from 1993 to 2017, the value of the total Turkish FDI in Croatia amounted to 212.6 million EUR, which is 0.7% of the total FDI in Croatia which, in the observed period, amounted to 32.6 billion EUR. Although, according to our findings, the largest Turkish investments have so far been related to tourism, and partly to the energy and finance sector, the segments that we think have a good investment potential and opportunities for cooperation are, among others, the auto parts manu-

Focus

TURKEY 2018

facturing industry, the textile and clothing industry and further investments in nautical tourism.

Turkish business people in Croatia are primarily investing in tourism; first and foremost in high-capacity facilities. What is the volume of these investments today and how important are they for bolstering the quality of the Croatian tourist offer? — Turkish business people usually invest in higher value tourism which is in line with Croatia's goals of repositioning towards the countries of the Western Mediterranean. Turkey's Dogus Group is the biggest

WE WANT TO SEE MANY MORE JOINT PROJECTS OF TURKISH AND CROATIAN ENTREPRENEURS, ESPECIALLY IN THE FIELD OF RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES

Turkish investor in Croatia which, in the eight years since coming to Croatia, has invested a total of 250 million EUR and employed around 350 Croatian citizens. Their latest project is transforming the old Maraska factory plant in Zadar into an exclusive hotel with 130 rooms which is going to be called the Hyatt Regency Maraska Hotel, to be followed with a luxurious residential segment. Once this project is completed, the total investment of Dogus Group in Croatia will increase to 350 million euros, and the owners will have 10.8 percent stake in ACI, the largest marina system in Croatia. Also, the Turkish chain of luxury hotels will invest this year around 12 million EUR in. We shouldn't forget to mention the owners of the Pucić Palace, which were among the first to invest in Croatian tourism.

Energy is considered the biggest future cooperation segment in regard to Turkey. What is the potential for cooperation in the wood and wood products markets? — Yes, the potential is certainly there, with some investment already made, but it is still far from optimal. The Uni Viridas biomass plant in Babina Greda was developed by local companies, and today, a Turkish ex-

ecutive is at the helm of the company that owns this biomass cogeneration plant. There is also the Velika 1 geothermal power plant near Bjelovar, which is scheduled for startup this year. This project is ownership of Croatian company Geoen, where 80% partner and main investor is Turkish MB Holding. The power plant has 10 MW capacity and it will be the first geothermal power plant in Croatia. These are small steps in the right direction, but we want to see many more joint projects of Turkish and Croatian entrepreneurs, especially in the field of renewable energy resources.

What impact did Croatia joining the EU and NATO have on the dynamics of this cooperation? — The fifth anniversary of Croatia's membership in the European Union is coming up soon, while the country joined NATO nine years ago. In terms of the cooperation with Turkey, both memberships have a positive connotation. Namely, Turkey has been NATO member for more than a decade and has, in that sense, validated the strategic alliance of the two countries in the security area too. With the Republic of Croatia's accession into the EU, the Free Trade Agreement with Turkey ceased to be valid and Croatia took over the effective regulation that regulates the economic relations between Turkey and the EU countries. Although we generally consider Croatia's accession to the EU to be a positive reflection of the economic co-operation between the two countries, unfortunately, there have been some negative moments. Upon joining the EU, we had to ask Turkish citizens to show a visa on their arrival in Croatia, which had not been the case previously. The aforementioned change resulted in a great decline in the number of Turkish tourists in Croatia, and considering the principle of reciprocity, Croatian citizens now also have to apply for a visa when going to Turkey. During his official visit to Croatia two years ago, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that he expected the value of the external exchange between the two countries to reach a billion euros. Which Croatian products and services do you recognize as the most competitive for the Turkish market, and where can Turkish companies find their niche here? — The Croatian-Turkish forum, which was held in early 2016, showed the full extent

of the interest and potential for cooperation between the two countries. The 150 Turkish and 450 Croatian businessmen, who participated in the forum, is very impressive and it should be noted that was one of the largest such gatherings held in Croatia. Th interest shown by business people from both countries was surprising

export grew by 42 percent and import by 19 percent. Despite this, Croatia continues recording a trade deficit with Turkey. In this regard, when we look at the total external trade in goods plus services, investments and of course, tourism, it becomes clear that this statement, i.e. the expectation of the external trade generating a billion euros, is not an unrealistic one.

ALTHOUGH THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE EXTERNAL TRADE (IN GOODS) IN 2017 WAS NEARLY $500 MILLION, UP 26 PERCENT FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, CROATIA STILL NEEDS TO INVEST MORE EFFORT INTO REDUCING THE EXTERNAL TRADE DEFICIT

Which institutional barriers do Turkish investors most often object to and can they be removed? — When making a decision to invest in a country, each investor views the stability and predictability of the business environment and the stability of the legislative framework governing business as important, including tax policy and legal certainty. The unpredictability of regulation, insufficient transparency and regulatory and administrative burdens are often criticized by both domicile and foreign investors. We are extremely pleased that the Government of Croatia has embarked on necessary reforms in terms of tax and administrative disencumbering of businesses, and the additional facilitation of the entrepreneurial climate. On the other hand, modern infrastructure, easy access to European and global markets, excellent transport links, high-quality workforce, stimulating investment conditions and the ability to use EU funds are just some of the reasons for Turkish business people choosing the Republic of Croatia as an investment and business destination.

to us and to our Turkish counterpart, the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK). Undoubtedly, the sheer number of business people attending the forum was the basis for President Erdoğan's expectations in terms of external trade. Of course, such a statement is very memorable, but what is important to us, in HGK, is that President Erdoğan pointed out that the private sector was the most important driving force behind the economy and called on the HGK to open a representative office in Turkey. Concerning specific figures, the total value of the external trade (in goods) in 2017 was nearly $500 million, up 26 percent from the previous year. By the same token, Croatian

How interested are Croatian companies in appearing in the Turkish market and what does HGK do to represent their interests? — Turkey has a population that is 20 times bigger than Croatia's. In the last decade, Turkey's economic development has been worthy of respect, and we must not ignore the historical ties between the two countries. Therefore, it is not surprising that Croatian companies have a great interest in co-operation, and many of them are already doing business with Turkish partners. Given that Croatian companies are mostly small and medium in size, as well as the geographic proximity of such a large market and the relatively unfamiliar conditions for doing business in Turkey, we think there is a considerable potential for an even more intensive progression of Croatian companies.

TURKEY 2018

Focus

CORPORATE

WHERE FOOD & SERVICE MEET EXCELLENCE

We are studiously blending world cuisines with Turkish hospitality, serving more then 100.000 guests daily

TA took its first step on this long journey in 1999 at Istanbul Atatürk Airport. Since then we have been offering passengers pleasant break spots where they can relax before and after their journey. Our particular expertise and service quality were appreciated so much that we decided to use our know–how overseas, thus adding new foreign airport operations to our portfolio. Today, BTA provides food & beverage services in 8 countries and 17 airports in Turkey, Georgia, Tunisia, Macedonia, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Latvia and Croatia at more than 350 locations, covering area of 60.000 square meters. In addition to airport operations in 8 countries, we export food products to the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, England, Germany, United States and people's Republic of China. Wherever we might be, we are always mindful of our goal which is not only providing the best possible services, but also being an inspiration. Our brands are developed with a great care and with a goal of achieving the highest customer/passenger satisfaction. We are continuously improving the brand offers, design and product mix. In 2017, BTA has commenced operations at Franjo Tudjman Airport after winning the tender for operating food and beverages outlets for a period of 13 years. Croatia is BTA's 8th overseas operation and Zagreb is the 16th airport in BTA`s business portfolio. Since the opening of a new terminal,

Focus

TURKEY 2018

BTA is now operational in 10 outlets and offers in-flight catering services as well. BTA BRANDS AT FRANJO TUĐMAN AIRPORT

CAKES & BAKES If you want to experience the delicious Cakes & Bakes products, our bakery / cafe offers `always fresh, just baked` baked goods. Cakes & Bakes carries a wide range of baked goods and an extensive selection of tempting cakes and desserts, made by our top notch chefs. Cakes & Bakes' guests will enjoy themselves in pleasant experiences and its bright, cheerful and welcoming homelike atmosphere.

BREWMARK Gastro bar offers a wide range of international and world-renowned premium beers, both on tap and in bottle, and the carefully selected cocktail list with tried and tested favourites for the new and trendy cocktail crowd. The focus here is on relaxation and enjoyment rather than on over-indulgence, plus there is a light and refreshing pub-style menu. This is one of the tourists' favourite haunts where they can enjoy delightful offers.

SPREAD As a concept, Spread has a multifaceted meaning. It relates to the idea that people have of what constitutes an impressively large meal – one that is well

prepared and greatly enjoyed. In another context means a sense of a place, as well as a large piece of land or wealth. All of this means that concept can be tailor made depending on location. This open, walk-through market concept offers a variety of delicious made-to-order dishes such as oven baked pizzas, hamburgers, freshly grilled meat & veggies, as well as many prepared grab & go options like salads and sandwiches. As customers navigate throught the space, they are able to choose from an array of colourful ingredients on display, which will be used in a dish that is made just for them. Complementing the numerous hot items on offer, there is also a freshly squeezed juice/smoothie bar, and a gelato counter serving up a range of flavours. Spread's goal is to carry all street flavours under one roof in the airport and serve them in a clean and vibrant ambience.

CAFE NERO When Gerry Ford founded Cafe Nero in 1997, his goal was to bring a premium, continental-style cafe to Great Britain. He wanted it to be authentically Italian, serving premium espresso–based coffee and fresh high quality food, as well as being a location where the neighbourhood wil gather. Cafe Nero is a European coffee house brand specializing in serving the high quality Italian coffee with a simple philosophy – premium Italian coffee, warm and welcoming atmosphere, good food and great personal service.

Subscribe NOW! News, analysis, interview and commentary on events occuring in Croatia, in diplomatic and business community. Every month, in English, directly to your desk. Reliable and efficient information platform offering diverse useful information about local, regional and foreign investment opportunities, trends, legislation updates and researches.

In print and online.

SUBSCRIBE NOW FOR COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF DIPLOMACY, POLITICS, BUSINESS AND SOCIETY IN CROATIA

only

399KN per year!

”Diplomacy&Commerce” for only 54€ per year! 12 issues + 12 special editions + 12 supplements...

Payment instructions: www.diplomacyandcommerce.hr/ subscription Call us 091 766 5479 or send us request on: Sven Darrer sven@diplomacyandcommerce.hr

CORPORATE

THE TURKISH COOPERATION AND COORDINATION AGENCY (TIKA)

HIGHLY-APPRECIATED HELP TIKA has currently 60 overseas offices in 58 countries with a global network expanding to 5 countries. All of our projects are carried out with one goal in mind: “All for a Smile”

Focus

TURKEY 2018

he Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) has been operating since 1992 as it continues to realize projects in five continents, starting in those countries with which Turkey has a shared culture and history. Today, we have 60 offices in 58 countries and through this network, TIKA has built a capacity for implementing over 2,000 projects annually in more than 150 countries. All of our projects are carried out with one goal in mind: “All for a Smile”. Hence, TİKA has offices in the regions with the highest fragility of any kind, be it a political and humanitarian crisis. We try to solve problems in our partner countries with an efficient approach from Turkey’s own Development Assistance Model. As a result of this efficiency and our country’s excellent performance, Turkey has become the world’s “Most Generous” country in 2015 and 2016. A wide range of sectors that we are covering with our projects, the efficiency of our project implementation methods, our transparency and high capacity for building cooperation with our project partners, have resulted in the aforementioned high-

ly-appreciated and most effectively implemented projects’ network. Apart from the technical and development assistance and humanitarian aid, TİKA also implements cultural cooperation and protects common heritage all over the world. TIKA assigns the utmost importance to old monuments and architectural works with the view of building cultural partnership with the host countries. TİKA realizes restoration and renovation projects of bridges, temples such as mosques and churches, fountains, clock-towers and castles. Also, TIKA has recently supported archaeological excavation projects, in order to find out what part of world heritage is still buried.

THE MODEL

WE TRY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS IN OUR PARTNER COUNTRIES WITH AN EFFICIENT APPROACH FROM TURKEY’S OWN DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE MODEL

In 1992, the year of its inception, TIKA’s primary aim was to provide development and technical aid to the Turkish states in Central Asia after the collapse of the communist regime. The first decade of TIKA’s activities were marked by a relatively modest performance, with only 12 offices opened by 2002. TIKA’s performance was significantly increased after 2002, and today, in 2018, TIKA has 60 overseas offices in 58 countries with a global network expanding to 5 countries. The number of projects that TIKA has implemented since 1992 stands at over 25.000, and these projects were realized in over 170 countries. According to the newest OECD figures, Turkey’s official development aid reached the value of 8.14 billion USD, which is 0.95 percent of the national GDP. This is a natural result of Turkey’s increased development aid in the last decade of the 21st century. The increase in Turkey’s development aid has also resulted in the conceptualization a new approach of development model - the Turkish Development Model - through which TIKA exercises a different approach compared to other development aid institutions: • Action based on sincerity • Working with a transparent management approach without any secret agendas • Emphasis on the needs and priorities of countries • Respecting partners and their values. Building up a communication model based on interaction and learning. • Without an expectation of visibility, TIKA adopts a rational, sustainable and directly beneficial approach to projects. In order to live out our motto – All for a Smile – globally, we work in different sectors. In education sector, we try to help with bringing up future generations. 404 projects were realized in 2016 worldwide. High schools, primary schools, vocational schools, laboratories, kindergartens, universities, and faculties were built, renovated, or technically completely restored and equipped under the framework of TIKA’s projects in education sector. Strong focus was put on special education in order to reduce social disadvantages of disabled people. Vocational training and activities related to female empowerment in social life through ed-

ucation are the two fields in which TIKA has been developing and implementing projects. Libraries have been built all over the world. We have been supporting mobility projects for students, teachers, academicians, and scientists, as well as supported conferences, symposiums, and summer schools.

MOTTO

IN ORDER TO LIVE OUT OUR MOTTO – ALL FOR A SMILE – GLOBALLY, WE WORK IN EDUCATION SECTOR, HELPING CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND VULNERABLE GROUPS, SUCH AS DISABLED PEOPLE AND WOMEN TIKA places huge importance on developing humane healthcare conditions. To that end, 225 healthcare projects were conducted in 2016 globally. Building or renovating hospitals and healthcare centres, developing their capacities through technical equipment donations, developing medical education programmes in cooperation with local and Turkish health institutions and professionals are just some of the areas that TIKA has been actively working in. It is a known fact that around 750 million people in the world lack access to clean drinking water. Thanks to its water and sanitation (water hygiene) projects, TIKA brings a lifeline to hundreds of thou-

sands of people in many countries that are threatened by droughts and lack of drinking water. Between 2003 and 2015, over 1,000 water wells were opened, and from Afghanistan and Sudan to Senegal and Georgia, many people were given access to water. TIKA is also active in the sector of cultural cooperation. Restoration is the primary activity in this sector. Remnants of the old times are being evaluated as bridges between Turkey and host countries. Temples (mosques, churches), bridges, clock towers, old railway lines, tombs, old museums etc. were or are being revived with the help of the latest restoration techniques. Furthermore, TIKA has supported cultural festivals and other cultural events (exhibitions, concerts) provided that they contribute to the improvement of bilateral relations. The projects relating to capacity development in NGOs, and capacity building in public sector have been implemented frequently. Through all these activities, TIKA wants to disseminate good deeds and actions throughout the world. TIKA has a unique and different position from other technical development agencies because it has the capability to operate in crisis regions and in countries with a high risk potential. Also, TIKA’s high operational capability in different geographies, solution-and result-oriented project strategies, effective communication with stakeholders, local people’s positive perception of TIKA, and its ability to move to action public institutions and agencies, universities, local administrations and NGOs in Turkey make TIKA a worldwide brand today.

TURKEY 2018

Focus

COOPERATION

FAR FROM FULL POTENTIAL Good, but has to be better — Text —

Želimir Maraš

Focus

TURKEY 2018

he political relations between Turkey and Croatia are great, but there is an enormous potential that remains untapped in the segment of economy.

WE CAN DO SO MUCH MORE In 2016, Turkey was the 20th most important economic partner of Croatia, with the external trade between the two countries amounting to EUR 469 million. That year, Croatia exported EUR 190 million worth of goods to Turkey and imported

EUR 278 million. Since 2003, when the external trade between them amounted to EUR 150 million, this value has more than doubled. Croatia is as a bridge that

TURKEY HAS STARTED TO BECOME MORE INDUSTRIALIZED WITH THE EXPORT LED GROWTH MODEL AFTER 1980s

can help Turkish businesses to create new jobs, while Turkish companies see Croatia as extremely attractive for the local market. However, the future plans are much more ambitious! Two years ago, during his official visit to Croatia, Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he wanted the external trade between the two countries to reach $1 billion (double the size we have now), and added that the opportunities for cooperation were far from exhausted. He also underlined the importance of transport cooperation, especially in the context of the

OFFER

CROATIA CAN OFFER A LOT TO TURKEY, MAINLY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS, AND MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY PRODUCTS, AS WELL AS PHARMACEUTICALS TURKEY 2018

Focus

Croatian ports. The Turkish president also said that many Turkish entrepreneurs came to Croatia, mentioning the natural gas and gas pipeline segment. Certain analyses show that, given that both Croatia and Turkey are maritime and tourist countries, there are numerous reasons for engaging Turkish capital in Croatia. There are several Turkish companies that are already present in our country and are very successful, for example in Dubrovnik and Zadar, so it makes sense that the good practices and experience should be applied in Croatia too, says Stjepan MesiÄ&#x2021;, the former Croatian president. Croatia can offer a lot to Turkey, mainly agricultural products, electrical products, and manufacturing industry products, as well as phar-

Focus

TURKEY 2018

NO MATTER HOW RAPIDLY THE SITUATION IN AND AROUND TURKEY CHANGE, THIS COUNTRY COULD BE ONE OF THE GREATEST PARTNERS OF CROATIA maceuticals. Interestingly enough, Croatia has almost the same export products like fruits and Mediterranean tourism just like Turkey, but it is import where we can notice the biggest difference. Turkey has started to become more industrialized with the export led growth model after 1980s. We

mostly import monitors, textile and household machines like ovens, TV sets, washing machines from Turkey nowadays. The Turkish side is much more supportive in terms of investments than Croatia. Indeed, Turkey's investments in tourism are the highest of all foreign investments. Turkish investors are also present in the health, energy and financial sectors, like KentBank and several investment funds. The potential of the Turkish market is remarkably high. This is a market of 80 million consumers, but also many foreign tourists, which means that in terms of food exports, we are able to do more than we do now. Also, we can work together with the Turks to gain better market access to Central Asia, all the way to Kyrgyzstan.

DEDICATED TO CUSTOMERS Our advantages are accommodating customers, security, flexibility and fast decision-making. Nevertheless, despite a very competitive market, we are continuously recording significant growth in all segments and are looking to expand

INTERVIEW

IVO BILIĆ

Chairman of the Managing Board of KentBank

lthough it has been operating on a significantly saturated market, KentBank has managed to find its niche and strategy which sets it apart from its competitors. The bank’s first prominent feature is its devotion to customers’ needs and the second, the ability to be a point where a growing interest of Turkish companies for Croatia and vice versa meet. Ivo Bilić, Chairman of the Managing Board of KentBank, is also proud of the new technological features that are enabling customers to handle banking operations in a highly advanced way.

What are the key qualities of KentBank that have resulted in the Bank recording an above average growth in the Croatian banking market? — After the Turkish owner took over the bank, its internal organization was significantly changed. The personnel structure was improved, and we have managed to achieve a significant growth in all segments in previous years. As a bank, we have a shallow organizational structure and thus, we managed to implement sales strategy in all segments. Thanks to our size, we can be fully dedicated to our customers, having a high quality individual approach and provide complete

Focus

TURKEY 2018

insurance at the same time. Apart from the expansion of our business and ATM network, the bank is constantly working on improving the existing and introducing new products and services. We have implemented an improved version of online banking (e-Kent), in addition to mobile banking (m-Kent) of which we are really proud of. Our advantages are accommodating customers, security, flexibility and fast decision-making. Our shallow organizational structure enables us to do all of this.

How difficult is it to find a niche for your banking products in a financially satu-

CROATIAN COMPANIES INTENDING TO TRADE IN TURKEY, AS WELL AS TURKISH COMPANIES INTERESTED IN THE CROATIAN MARKET, WILL BENEFIT FROM USING THE SERVICES OUR TURKISH DESK PROVIDES

rated market? — It is hard to find a niche, but we think that we have succeeded. We wanted to use the connection with our owner in an adequate way, and, for the purpose of connecting the Croatian and Turkish economy, we have established a Turkish Desk as a place where Croatian companies planning to trade in Turkey, can obtain information and present their initiatives, as can Turkish companies interested in the Croatian market. In our approach to the customers, it is not only banking services that we offer. We are also able to offer to establish connections with Turkish companies and vice versa, all with the view of improving our clients' businesses. KentBank is supported by the powerful Süzer Group from Turkey that ensures your stability with high capital and a high capital adequacy ratio. How do you measure up against this criterion in relation to other banks that are backed by strong financial groups? — Growth and development that we have achieved in previous years have been strongly and continuously supported by our owner, Süzer Group, which is well-established in Turkey. Sspecially in terms of boosting the bank’s capital position. In the past period,

from the takeover onward, our owner has been continuosly working on bolstering the bank’s capital position.

In which way does KentBank connect Turkey and Croatia? — KentBank has recognized a great potential in increasing external trade between Turkey and Croatia and has established a special unit called Turkish Desk, for the purpose of supporting and financing foreign trade transactions between Turkish and Croatian companies. After the success of the Turkish Desk in Zagreb, which was founded in 2015, KentBank decided to open a Representative Office in Istanbul. Through Turkish Desk in Zagreb and the Representative Office in Istanbul, KentBank facilitates a full access to comprehensive solutions for business financing, as well as international banking products and solutions for small, medium and big enterprises. Our bank aims to create new opportunities for businesses in Croatia and Turkey and to become a bridge which will connect the economies of the two countries. How many Turkish companies are present in Croatia and how many Croatian companies are operating in Turkey? In which way do you support economic ties between the two countries? — Presently, there are 50 active Turkish businesses in Croatia, registered as small, medium and large enterprises. About 150 Croatian companies export various goods and services to Turkey and around 100 Croatian companies import from Turkey. The annual value of Croatian export of goods to Turkey is 108 million EUR, while the import from Turkey stands at 240 million EUR. It is clear that the external trade between Croatia and Turkey has an unlimited poten-

tial. KentBank has recognized this untapped potential and it is the right place for the import-export operations. KentBank has an excellent cooperation with the Croatian Chamber of Economy in exchanging information and promotion of business opportunities, as well as with the Turkish Economic Relations Board (DEIK). We have been working with DEIK since we established our Turkish Desk. One of the

PRESENTLY, THERE ARE 50 ACTIVE TURKISH BUSINESSES IN CROATIA, REGISTERED AS SMALL, MEDIUM AND LARGE ENTERPRISES members of our Managing Board is also a member of the Turkish-Croatian Business Council. We also have close ties to the Turkish Embassy in Croatia, as well as the Croatian - Turkish Friendship Association that is our long-time partner, so, all in all, we are familiar with the opportunities created by Turkey in various segments of the economy.

In which parts of Croatia are you most active as the Bank that follows Turkish investments? — Turkish investors have so far invested considerable resources in the tourism sector, health services, airports and renewable energy resources. In addition to these segments, Turkish investors are interested in the metalworking industry, construction

industry, food and beverage industry, etc. KentBank is able to support Turkish investors throughout Croatia and structure financial tracking of their investments. We are also continuously monitoring potential investments and we are always ready to support investors, both financially and business-wise.

What are KentBank's plans in the strong Turkish market? — Our goal is to create new business opportunities and to be a bridge that will connect the economies of our two countries. Today, KentBank has 15 branches across Croatia and actively lends to entrepreneurs from all branches of the economy. We have a number of finance specialists and thusly, we are able to approach every client individually by finding the best financial products and services for their growth and progress. We have opened the Representative Office in Turkey for the purpose of advising Turkish companies and strengthening business relations between Croatian and Turkish clients. How do you envisage the bank's future position in the Croatian market? — Our goal in the coming years is to be positioned in the Croatian market as a medium-sized bank or to continue with organic growth. If an opportunity arises, we are ready for acquisitions as well. Bearing in mind the strong role that social responsibility has in building the reputation and competitiveness and in creating satisfaction and a stimulating environment for our employees, KentBank is guided by the principle of responsibility in all segments of its operations and towards all stakeholders, thus creating the conditions for its faster business development.

POSITION

OUR GOAL IN THE COMING YEARS IS TO BE POSITIONED IN THE CROATIAN MARKET AS A MEDIUM-SIZED BANK OR TO CONTINUE WITH ORGANIC GROWTH. IF AN OPPORTUNITY ARISES, WE ARE READY FOR ACQUISITIONS AS WELL TURKEY 2018

Focus

— Text —

Želimir Maraš

ECONOMY

CONSTANTLY GROWING The old-new centre of the Middle Earth

he subheading sounds like something taken from Tolkien's books and it actually is. The Middle Earth, as we concieve it on our planet, is a region stretching from Western Europe to China, from Russia to the Arabic peninsula and from North Africa to India. Geographically speaking, Turkey is in the middle, slowly starting with its domination.

NO PREJUDICE, JUST BUSINESS If you have ever visited a Turkish company

Focus

TURKEY 2018

A SOUND MACROECONOMIC STRATEGY, PRUDENT FISCAL POLICIES, AND MAJOR STRUCTURAL REFORMS HAVE ALL CONTRIBUTED TO IT

in Turkey, you might have seen a map on the wall. They all look almost identical - Turkey is in the middle of the map which covers an area from Western China to Western Europe and from Russia to the half of Africa. It also shows many links from Istanbul to all these places. Did you notice that you usually have a layover in Istanbul if you are flying eastbound? Do you have a Facebook friend from the Orient who posts photos from Istanbul (like, maybe Uzbek friends)? Did you notice that many of your friends go to Turkey for a city break, that the Turkish „telenovelas“

replaced the Latin American ones and that the Turkish sport clubs are prominent in every major league? This is a clear sign of the Turkish economic power. Turkey’s economy has performed remarkably well with its steady growth over the past 15 years. A sound macroeconomic strategy, prudent fiscal policies, and major structural reforms have all contributed to the integration of Turkey’s economy into the globalized world while also transforming the country into one of the major recipients of FDI in its region. These reforms have increased the role of the private sector in Turkey’s economy, enhanced the efficiency and resiliency of the financial sector, and placed public finance on a more solid foundation. These reforms strengthened the macroeconomic fundamentals of the country, allowing the economy to grow at an annual average real GDP growth rate of 5.6 percent from

2003 to 2016. In 2017, Turkish economy expanded by 7.4%.

FACTS AND FIGURES As the GDP levels increased to USD 851 billion in 2017, up from USD 236 billion in 2002. Since 2002, GDP per capita has nearly tripled from 3,581 USD to 10,597 USD in 2017.

TURKEY IS EXPECTED TO BE ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING ECONOMIES AMONG OECD MEMBERS DURING THE 2015-2025 PERIOD, WITH AN ANNUAL AVERAGE GROWTH RATE OF 4.9%

The visible improvements in Turkey’s economy have also boosted foreign trade. Exports reached USD 157 billion by the end of 2017, up from USD 36 billion in 2002, while tourism revenues, which were around USD 12.4 billion in 2002, exceeded USD 26 billion in 2017. Turkey is also one of the largest recipient of FDI. The country has adopted a series of legislative reforms to facilitate the reception of foreign investment. The FDI stock has reached USD 180 billion in the past 15 years. Significant improvements in such a short period of time have registered Turkey on the world economic scale as an exceptional emerging economy. It is the 17th largest economy in the world and the 6th largest economy when compared with the EU countries, according to GDP figures in 2016. Turkey is expected to be one of the fastest growing economies among OECD members during the 2015-2025 period, with an annual average growth rate of 4.9%.

STATISTICS

THE IMF DEFINES THE TURKISH ECONOMY AS AN EMERGING MARKET ECONOMY. TURKEY IS AMONG THE WORLD'S DEVELOPED COUNTRIES ACCORDING TO THE CIA WORLD FACTBOOK TURKEY 2018

Focus

HERITAGE THAT CONNECTS Thanks to the numerous activities of the Yunus Emre Institute, people in Croatia have been increasingly discovering many cultural links between the two countries that had been established back in the day, but are still insufficiently known. At the same time, they are also learning about the modern Turkey

INTERVIEW

NURULLAH YAVAŞ

Director of the Turkish Cultural Centre in Zagreb

t the Turkish Cultural Centre, Croatian citizens, cultural and scientific workers can obtain information about the wealth of the cultural heritage that the Turkey possesses. A series of extraordinary lectures and Troy exhibitions, which will mark 2018, are just one of the reasons for further bolstering the ties between the two countries.

How much is Turkish culture present and known in Croatia? — The current connections between Croatia and Turkey are good. This is also evident in many common cultural and social values that can be found in Croatia. The awareness of such values, which are a part of the Croatian culture, are further promoted by the Turksih TV series that have been recently broadcast. Also, there are close to 2,000 words in the Croatian language that originate from the Turkish, there is the Turkish cuisine which has been incorporated into

Focus

TURKEY 2018

the Croatian national cuisine, the clothing customs, and numerous other ethnographic values that came from the past into the present. From this we can conclude that the opinion about Turkey in Croatia and about Croatia in Turkey is positive.

WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE WHO IS EXPLORING TURKEY TO VISIT OUR LIBRARY AT THE TURKISH CULTURAL CENTER 'YUNUS EMRE' WHERE THEY CAN FIND BOOKS IN TURKISH, ENGLISH AND CROATIAN

What connects the Mediterranean area with the Anatolian civilization and culture? Where is that connection the most visible in Croatia? — Looking back, we can notice that certain civilizations had been constantly migrating in the Mediterranean, from Anatolia towards the West. We can also say that the Mediterranean saw many conflicts, primarily trade, migration and military-related. The civilizations founded in Anatolia have certainly made their presence known in the Mediterranean region with their trading. During the Roman Empire, Split and Izmit were mentioned as the stops on trade routes, while during the Ottoman Empire, there were strong trading ties with the Republic of Dubrovnik. Zadar was also one of the more important, busy ports. Turkish ships, which were shipwrecked on their way to Venice, and the Iznik pottery they carried testify together about the multitude of ways in which the Croatian and Turkish cultures are linked.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey declared 2018 as the Year of Troy. What will the people in Croatia be able to see from this rich heritage? — During 2018, which is also the Year of Troy, the Yunus Emre Institute has a goal of holding numerous events about our extensive world heritage in all major Croatian cities throughout the year, in collaboration with the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb and under the auspices of the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Zagreb. With this in mind, we officially opened the Year of Troy in Croatia in March in Zagreb with the lectures by Professor Rüstem Aslan, PhD, who is the head of the archeological excavation in the ancient city of Troy. In April, as part of the „Chatting while sipping on Turkish coffee“ event at the Yunus Emre Institute in Zagreb, we will host Sanjin Mihelić, Director of the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb, who will recall his experiences from the Troy archeological site. Also, throughout the year, there will be lectures given by the renowned scientists in this area, such as Professor Marina Miličević Bradač, PhD, Helena Tomas, PhD, and Professor Peter Pavúk, PhD, at the Gallery of the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb. The exhibition is actually the most important step. In July, we are going to open a photography exhibition about Troy in the Lapidarium of the Archaeological Museum. The exhibition will also be showcased in Zadar, Pula, Rijeka, Osijek and Karlovac until the end of the year. The Troy Festival takes place in July too, which is geared more towards children and young people. At the festival, the audiences will be able to se the revived Homer's epic poems, and participate in numerous workshops that will present our treasures to new generations. At the same time, we are going to take part in the International Archaelogical Film Festival in Split with quality documentaries about Troy. In October, we plan to hold the Symposium on Archeological Tourism where we will connect Troy with various events. With all of these events, our goal is to send to the world a message of peace and love from Anatolia and to present the remnants of this ancient civilization. We would like to invite everyone to come and get to know Çanakkale, and the area which the students in Croatia have already learned about from Iliad, epic poem written by Homer from Izmir.

This year, The Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centre started implementing the project called „Chatting while sipping on Turkish Coffee“. Can you tell our readers about the most interesting parts of the project? — With this project, while sipping on a cup of the Turkish coffee, we wanted to familiarize people with the topics related both to Croatia and Turkey, which were pushed aside, and with the help of the academic community and researchers who live in Croatia and cooperate with Turkey in some way. So, some of the covered topics are „Croats in the Bosphorus area“ and „The great Osijek bridge from the time of the Suleyman the Magnificient“. On 27th April, the head of the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb, Sanjin Mihelić will talk about Troy and the antique excavations that he was engaged in. What other activities of the Turkish Cultural Centre in 2018 would you like to single out?

WE HAVE PROVIDED FREE ONLINE LESSONS IN THE TURKISH LANGUAGE AT THE TURKISH DISTANCE LEARNING PORTAL WHERE USERS CAN LEARN ON THEIR SMART PHONES, TABLETS, OR COMPUTERS — In 2018, the Turkish Cultural Center 'Yunus Emre' has organized many important events. For May, we have prepared the screening of 13 Turkish films, under the auspices of the 7th week of Turkish Film event. Turkey is also the partner of the 3rd International Marco Polo Festival in Korčula in June. In July, we will present the Kudsi Ergüner Orchestra at the 62nd Summer Festival in Krk. Throughout the year, we will also hold various film screenings, Turkish food workshops, exhibitions, events related to the Year of Troy, the Chatting while sipping on Turkish coffee events, aTurkish poetry Workshop, a translation workshop and many other cultural events.

How familiar are the people in Croatia with Turkey, its culture, tradition and scientific achievements, and what have you been doing to appeal to young Croatian experts to get to know Turkey better? — There are commonalities between the Croatian and Turkish academic community, as we can see from numerous and very strong ties between the universities of the two countries, as well as from the student and professor exchange. The universities also demonstrate these commonalities in the segment of developmental culture. Under the auspices of the Office of the President of the Republic of Turkey, the Yunus Emre Institute has launched the Turkish Academic and Scientific Cooperation Project (TABİP) aimed at sharing Turkish scientific achievements with the world and strengthening international scientific and academic cooperation. This project will generate a collection of Turkish scientific and academic achievements that will enable close monitoring of the world's scientific, academic and technological developments. The Yunus Emre Institute has established international relations and has experience in diplomacy, which will be useful when presenting the Turkish science, technological development directions and opportunities. Also, work is being done on a science centre for students wishing to study in Turkey, or for scientists who want to conduct scientific research. Apart from the Institute in Turkey, there are numerous scholarships for foreign researchers such as Türkiye Bursları or TÜBİTAK. How big is the interest in learning the Turkish language? — There is a great deal of interest for learning the Turkish language in Croatia. We have seen a significantly higher interest in learning Turkish after Turkish TV series started to be broadcast in Croatia. The Department of Turcology at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Zagreb goes back a century. Since the establishment of the Institute in 2016, we have seen a great interest in learning the Turkish language. The teaching takes place under the Common European Framework for Languages and the of the Yunus Emre Institute methodology. The free courses are taught from a wide variety of materials, web tools and a smart board. We have had over 200 students enrolled in these last two years.

TURKEY 2018

Focus

— Text —

Želimir Maraš

CULTURE

THE BRIDGE BETWEEN CIVILISATIONS The best of all worlds

urkey might have the perfect geographic position, which also gives this country an enormous advantage to be a bridge for cultural influences: those from the Orient that were relegated to Europe via Turkey and vice versa, and the European and Western values that

Focus

TURKEY 2018

TURKISH CUISINE IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD, PERHAPS EVEN AMONG THE TOP 5 EVER

were relegated to Africa and Asia through the same Bosphorus-Anatolia route.

MELTING POT No wonder the Turkish cuisine is one of the best in the world, perhaps among

the Top 5 ever. Turkish cuisine inherited its Ottoman heritage which could be described as a fusion and refinement of the Turkic, Arabic, Greek and Persian cuisines. Turkish cuisine also has a strong influence on those cuisines and other cuisines from neighbouring countries, as well as from Western Europe. Ottomans fused various culinary traditions of their realm with influences from the Middle Eastern cuisines, along with the traditional Turkic elements from Central Asia, such as yoghurt. The official documented sources say that „Turkey’s culture combines a heavily diverse and heterogeneous set of elements that have been derived from the various cultures of the Eastern Mediterranean (West Asian) and Central Asian region and to a lesser degree, Eastern European, and Caucasian traditions. Many of these traditions were initially brought together by the Ottoman Empire, a multi-ethnic and multi-religious state”.

MODERNITY AND TRADITION

During the early years of the Republic, the government invested a large amount of resources into fine arts such as paintings, sculpture and architecture. This was done for the sake of modernization and creating

EVEN IN LATER STAGES, THE IMMIGRANTS FROM THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA BROUGHT WITH THEM THE CULTURE OF BASKETBALL, WHICH HAD NOT BEEN POPULAR IN TURKEY. TODAY, TURKEY IS ONE OF THE BASKETBALL SUPERPOWERS

a cultural identity. Because of the different historical factors defining the Turkish identity, Turkey’s culture fuses clear efforts on modernization and Westernization, undertaken in varying degrees since the 1800s, with a simultaneous desire to maintain traditional religious and historical values. Aleksa Šantić wrote the poem called “Stay here!”, dedicated to the Bosniak Muslims that moved to Turkey instead of staying within the new Austrian-influenced Bosnia and Herzegovina provinces. They did not stay there, and the movement continues on to the present, since Turkey was a capitalist country and rather prosperous in many segments even in its bleakest days. There is an interesting development to mention here – even in later stages, the immigrants from the former Yugoslavia brought with them the culture of basketball, which had not been popular in Turkey. Today, Turkey is one of the basketball superpowers.

RESOURCES

DURING THE EARLY YEARS OF THE REPUBLIC, THE GOVERNMENT INVESTED A LARGE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES INTO FINE ARTS SUCH AS PAINTINGS, SCULPTURE AND ARCHITECTURE TURKEY 2018

Focus

TOURISM

PARADISE FOR EVERYONE From history to nature â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Turkey has it all

ll tourists visiting Turkey are keen to see... the Ancient and Roman Greek ruins on the coastline, the Ottoman heritage or Early Christian sacred buildings.

A CLEAR SHOT Whether you are an art and history buff, an archaeology nut or a nature lover, enjoy browsing through markets or going diving, the different regions of Turkey offer endless

Focus

TURKEY 2018

possibilities all year round. Each area has its own personality, history, landscape and even cuisine, and with so much on offer to visitors it is not surprising that one trip to Turkey is never enough. Surrounded by three different seas, Turkey is a beach paradise with over 8000 km of sunny strips of sand. It also has an abundance of plant and wildlife species that can be enjoyed while camping or trekking in the many national parks which are dotted around the country.

Home to more than 20 different fascinating civilisations, Turkey has a 10,000 yearold heritage, much of which is still being uncovered. Its rich history is very much part of the present, with temples, ancient theatres, churches, mosques, tombs, statues of gods, palaces and fortresses, and of course the many rich and fascinating museums which bring the past to life. And of course in cities like Ä°stanbul, there is a modern, lively ambience of contemporary society living alongside tradition, where

— Text —

Želimir Maraš than the island of Mali Lošinj“, but in the 1990s and especially in the 21st century, the country started to flourish. Tourism in Turkey is focused largely on a variety of historical sites, and on seaside resorts along its Aegean and Mediterranean Sea coastlines. Turkey has also become a popular destination for culture, spa, and health tourism. At its height in 2014, Turkey attracted around 42 million foreign tourists, ranking the 6th most popular tourist destination in the world. This number however declined to around 36 million in 2015, and to around 25 million in 2016. This was due to many factors - terrorist attacks, the Arab Spring, the emergence of DAESH threath at the Turkish borders, and then

HOME TO MORE THAN 20 DIFFERENT FASCINATING CIVILISATIONS, TURKEY HAS A 10,000 YEAR-OLD HERITAGE, MUCH OF WHICH IS STILL BEING UNCOVERED

art and music can be enjoyed whether it belongs to today or yesteryear. Tourism in Turkey was a clear shot for every government and especially after 1980's one of governments priorities was to develop tourism sector in Turkey. In the 1980s, „Turkey had the revenue in total less

Russian sanctions and the boycott which severely damaged Turkish tourism. The Western tourists tried to find new destinations like Croatia and Portugal to replace Turkey which was largely abandoned. But all is different now! The recovery began in 2017, with the number of foreign visitors increasing to 32 million. With the renewed Russian interest and the demise of the Islamic State, it seems that the sunny days are on the horizon once again.

ISTANBUL İstanbul, which was known as a capital of the capital cities, and created a big peace of geographies with regaining to first Roma, and then Eastern Roman (Byzantium) Empire and continents, and was the capital city of Ottoman Empire, is going to a modern future with preserving magnificence of history with proud. Variety in İstanbul is really charming the visitors. It is serving infinite nuances with its museums, churches, palaces, mosques, bazaar places and natural beauties. When you lean against backside at the coast of the strait, you feel İstanbul as "center of the world" and understand why people select this extraordinary place centuries before with watching the reflection of the red at sun set from the houses at the coast. Anyone who has ever visited Istanbul was impressed by its size and significance. Istanbul is one of the most important tourism spots not only in Turkey, but also in the world. There are thousands of hotels and other tourist-oriented industries in the city, catering to both vacationers and visiting professionals. Turkey's largest city, a metropolis and a leading global city, Istanbul, has a number of major attractions derived from its historical status as the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. These include the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (the "Blue Mosque"), the Hagia Sophia, the Topkapı Palace, the Basilica Cistern, the Dolmabahçe Palace, the Galata Tower, the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar, and the Pera Palace Hotel. Istanbul has also recently become one of the biggest shopping centers in the European region with its numerous shopping malls such as Metrocity, Akmerkez and Cevahir Mall, which is the biggest mall in Europe

HISTORY

ISTANBUL, OR BYZANTION AND CONSTANTINOPLE AS IT WAS CALLED IN THE PAST, WAS THE CAPITAL OF THREE EMPIRES, ALL OF THEM TERRITORIALLY HUGE, WHICH IS REFLECTED IN THE SIZE OF ISTANBUL’S BUILDINGS AND ITS HISTORY TURKEY 2018

Focus

and the seventh largest shopping centre in the world. Other attractions include sporting events, museums, and cultural events. Needless to say, Istanbul, or rather Byzantion and Constantinople as it was called in the past, was the capital of three empires, all of them territorially huge, which is reflected in the size of Istanbul’s buildings and its history.

THE SEA Beach vacations and Blue Cruises, particularly for visitors from Western Europe, are also central to the Turkish tourism industry. Most beach resorts are located along the southwestern and southern coast, called the Turkish Riviera, and along the Mediterranean coast near Antalya. Antalya is also accepted as the tourism capital of Turkey. Major resort towns include Bodrum, Fethiye, Marmaris, Kuşadası, Çeşme, Didim and Alanya. According to the Chamber of Shipping, Turkey was ranked 2nd in the world in 2015 in terms of the number of blue-flagged beaches which stood at 436. Because of the proximity of Marmara and Black Sea, it is also one of the favorable destinations, especially for Istanbul residents. The Black Sea coast is less sunny and the sea is colder and less salty, but it seems to attract those Turks who are not fond of the heat. We should also mention the vast number of historical sites there from the Ancient and Mediaeval history. Don’t forget Captain Jason and the Argonauts!

HISTORY IN 3D Turkey has numerous cultural attractions which include the sites of Ephesus, Troy, Pergamon, the House of the Virgin Mary,

Focus

TURKEY 2018

Pamukkale, Hierapolis, Trabzon (where one of the oldest monasteries is the Sümela Monastery), Konya (where the poet Rumi had spent most of his life), Didyma, the Church of Antioch, ancient capital and king rock tombs with its acropolis in Amasya, religious places in Mardin (such as Deyrülzafarân Monastery), and the ruined cities and landscapes of Cappadocia. The Seven Churches of the Apocalypse are all there, as are the two of the world’s Seven Wonders – Tomb of Kıng Mausolus at Halicarnassus and Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. Turkey is one of only three countries that have two world wonders on its territory, together with Egypt and Greece. After reading these facts,

ISTANBUL IS SERVING INFINITE NUANCES WITH ITS MUSEUMS, CHURCHES, PALACES, MOSQUES, BAZAAR PLACES AND NATURAL BEAUTIES

you get the feeling that you are in the very centre of the civilization. Not to mention that Virgin Mary probably fled to Turkey and found refuge near Ephesus where she died. If you want to explore the history of Christianity, there are very few places better than Turkey. The Turks have meticulously preserved the Greek, Byzantine and Roman heritage while being very aware of the potential for lucrative tourist business stemming from them.

MORE FACTS AND FIGURES Foreign tourist arrivals increased substantially in Turkey between 2000 and 2005, from 8 million to 21.2 million, which made Turkey a top-10 destination in the world in terms of the number of foreign visitors. The 2005 tourism revenues were US$17.5 billion which also made Turkey one of the top-10 biggest tourism revenue generators in the world. In 2011, Turkey ranked the 6th most popular tourist destination in the world and 4th in Europe, according to UNWTO World Tourism barometer. The number of foreign tourists is shown in the following table.

Distribution of foreigners arriving in Turkey by years and months Months January February March April May June July August September October November December Total

2016 1 170 333 1 240 633 1 652 511 1 753 045 2 485 411 2 438 293 3 468 202 3 183 003 2 855 397 2 449 948 1 353 280 1 302 157 25 352 213

Years 2017 1 055 474 1 159 833 1 587 007 2 070 322 2 889 873 3 486 940 5 075 961 4 658 463 4 076 630 2 992 947 1 652 795 1 703 789 32 410 034

2018* 1 461 570 1 527 070 2 139 766

Rate of change (%) 2017/2016 2018-2017 -9,81 36,48 -6,51 31,66 -3,96 34,83 18,10 16,27 43,01 46,36 46,35 42,77 22,16 22,13 30,84 27,84