Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Station İzmir, established to strengthen the regional economy and communities, supports the digital transformation of SMEs and entrepreneurs and aims to reach global markets for enterprises in the Aegean region. The station aims to bring people, communities and businesses in İzmir, Turkey together to help them access the skills, resources and information they need to grow. Station İzmir, which will host a series of different trainings, programs and workshops focused on the digitization of Turkish society and economy, offers a physical space where different social groups and communities can come together to exchange ideas and work together.

The opening ceremony was attended by İzmir Governor Yavuz Selim Köşger, TOBB Board Member and İzmir Chamber of Commerce Chairman Mahmut Özgener, Bornova Mayor Mustafa İduğ, İzmir Commodity Exchange Vice Chairman Ercan Korkmaz, Facebook Turkey and Azerbaijan Public Policy Director Sezen Yeşil and Habitat Association Chairman Sezai Hazır.

In the opening program, ARYA Women's Investment Platform Founder Ahu Serter, Futurists Association Founder and Honorary President Alphan Manas, Bosphorus Ventures Board Member Barış Özistek and Good Live App Founder Elif Boyner were present at the “Next Generation Entrepreneurship Opportunities” panel moderated by Civan Sözkesen, Vice Chairman of Habitat Association.

- Facebook Turkey and Azerbaijan Public Policy Director Sezen Yeşil

In her speech, Sezen Yeşil, Director of Public Policy of Facebook Turkey and Azerbaijan, stated that together with Station İzmir, they are one step closer to the goals of implementing Facebook Station all over the country.

“The pandemic has shown us how important it is for the country's economy for individuals, businesses, communities and NGOs to develop themselves in the digital world. Facebook Station, our first community center in Turkey, which we opened in İstanbul in September last year, is one of the biggest investments we have made in this direction. With the İzmir satellite center, which we signed the protocol today, we have moved one step closer to our goal of implementing Facebook Station all over the country. We will organize training programs and workshops in all our community centers focusing on a range of different topics such as online export, digital marketing, online security and digital communication.”

- İzmir Governor Yavuz Selim Köşger

İzmir Governor Yavuz Selim Köşger underlined in his opening speech that they want İzmir to be the technology capital of Turkey.

“We want İzmir to be the technology capital of Turkey. We're going to start building together. İzmir already has a very good image, and we will do some work on bringing it to an even better place. The world is changing rapidly, we are experiencing a digitalized world. Within five days, previous information produced around the world is doubling. We need to keep up with the era. And to keep up with this era, we need to get back to ourselves. We need to get to know ourselves. One of the things that makes me happy here today is that we are in a structure that reveals the historical texture of İzmir. Today, we are launching pavilion for the future of İzmir, for the education of children who will have a say in the future of İzmir, and for women to become entrepreneurs. We are very pleased that this pavilion has been uncovered as a historical texture and that coding education has been provided, that our women are engaged in activities for their participation in the trade and that it is being put into service for the upbringing of young people, to make İzmir the digital capital of Turkey.”

- TOBB Board Member Mahmut Özgener

TOBB Board Member Mahmut Özgener underlined in his opening speech that it is much easier to be an entrepreneur and to grow entrepreneurs' businesses than before.

“Companies that use digital tools correctly are one click away from potential customers around the world. We will serve SMEs and anyone who wants to become an entrepreneur in this center, which we have opened in cooperation with Facebook, TOBB, ICC and Habitat and in partnership with İzmir Commodity Exchange and Bornova Municipality. We will support SMEs to grow by teaching them how to use the tools developed by Facebook, one of the world's largest technology companies, correctly. We're not just opening a venue here today. Today, we are starting a process in which we will produce content and present it to SMEs that will enable all SMEs in Turkey to develop their 21^st century competencies. Thank you very much to everyone who helped us come together for The Station İzmir, which we opened together today. With this center to be opened, our entrepreneurs will come up with new ideas, receive trainings and open to the world from İzmir. And a thank you to Mr. Sezai, Hazır of the Habitat Association. I want to congratulate them once again for doing their best to increase the number of entrepreneurs in our country.”

- Bornova Mayor Mustafa İduğ

In his opening speech, Bornova Mayor Mustafa İduğ underlined the happiness of Habitat Association's cooperation with the local government.

“Bornova city is a university city and industrial city. It's also a county where Generation Z lives. In the near future, Turkey will be one of the most important centers of institutionalization with the migration of capital in the world to Turkey. I want to emphasize the importance of financial literacy and digitalization in order to become institutional here. Here are the three most important topics of the Habitat Association. It is our priority to continue in a structure that is dominated by innovative thinking. In this respect, we are very happy that Habitat Association works together with very important leaders in Turkey.”

- İzmir Commodity Exchange Vice Chairman Ercan Korkmaz

In his opening speech, Ercan Korkmaz, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of İzmir Commodity Exchange, expressed his happiness to be part of such a project, which will host trainings and workshops that will contribute to the more competitive position of SMEs and entrepreneurs, and went on:

“We are in a period where the world is changing very rapidly in all respects. Covid pandemic we experienced has also increased the speed of this change tremendously. Everything from the way we do business to the way we live is changing rapidly. But one thing that hasn't and won’t change is education. Standing where technology is today means being left behind. We have to update ourselves regularly. This is exactly what Station İzmir, which we officially opened today, will take on this function.”

- Habitat Association Chairman Sezai Hazır

Habitat Association will support entrepreneurship and Turkey's digital transformation in the future in cooperation with Facebook, Habitat Association chairman Sezai Hazır said.

“I believe that our close relations with Facebook, TOBB, ICC, Bornova Municipality and İzmir Commodity Exchange have contributed greatly to the easy progress of the project for all parties. Within the scope of this latest collaboration, as Habitat Association, we will take part in the active survival of Station İzmir and will be the executive director of the programs and events that will start soon. At the same time, I think today is an important day when we will connect station İzmir with stations in Anatolia. This year's slogan of Global Entrepreneurship Week in Turkey is a motto called the time. It's time because sometimes we despair when negativity like the pandemic is high. But entrepreneurs can't afford to despair. Entrepreneurs should give hope as a light in society. Therefore, in order to give hope, we continue to open such community centers even if some of the negatives of the pandemic continue.”