Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Hisarcıklıoğlu said during the agreement ceremony, “There is actually a very powerful message to two parties on this table. First, entrepreneurs in Turkey: There are thousands of local values in our geography similar to the Kahramanmaras ice cream. Each city has its own great brand values. They are all candidates to become a MADO, a candidate to become a world brand. Here is an sample of what they can come up with if they take the right steps. Take MADO as an example. The second message is for investors, especially investors abroad: Regardless of global conditions, Turkey is always a safe haven. Those who invest in Turkey always win. Because our entrepreneurs adapt very rapidly to change and they can overcome troubling periods very quickly. If you want to profit, come and do so; we have nothing against it. For this reason, I invite all investors to my country in this meaningful ceremony.”

The partnership agreement between MADO Yasar Ice Cream and Food Products Co. Inc., Venture Capital Bank and Al Sraiya Holding was signed at the TOBB Twin Towers on December 6^th, 2016, with the attendances of TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu and Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak.

Also present at the signing ceremony hosted by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, in addition to Minister Kaynak and Hisarcıklıoğlu were CEO of Venture Capital Bank (VCBank) Abdullatif Mohammed Janahi, Vice Chairman of Al Sraiya Holding Vice Chairman Rashid Nasser Sraiya Al Kaabi and MADO Yasar Ice Cream and Food Products Co. Inc. Chairman of the Board of Directors Mehmet Sait Kanbur.

-Efforts to increase cooperation with Arab countries

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that as TOBB, they have been working to increase economic cooperation between Turkey and the Arab region for a long time ago to increase bilateral investing and trade. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We established very strong bilateral mechanisms with the chambers of Arab countries and created regional platforms. We organized the first Turkey-Gulf Business and Investment Forum in 2012 with the Federation of Chambers of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Venture Capital Bank and Bank Alkhair, one of the parties of that forum, has signed a 65%partnership agreement with Göknur Food, Turkey's leading fruit juice concentrate producer. The second forum was held in Bahrain last month. It was also very successful. 6 Gulf country and Turkish companies conducted meetings with a combined volume of over 380mn USD today.

During the past week, we took a historic step to move the economic relationship between us and Arab geography to the next level. We, TOBB, established the Turkish-Arab Chamber with the cooperation of the Arabic Chambers Confederation. We were together with Rasheed Naser Al Kaabi at this table in the establishment of the Chamber. Following close on the steps of that development, this important partnership agreement has been signed.

We are happy to see that all of our efforts are bearing fruit. It also raises our hopes for the future, encouraging us to work harder. We will continue our efforts to enable our companies to open up internationally and to attract investors.

- Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak

Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak stated that the world is experiencing one of the biggest refugee migrations after World War II and said, “60 million people have been displaced, 60 million are homeless. Three million of them in are Turkey. The world’s interest may change, technology may develop, but there is no alternative to food.”

Speaking at the partnership agreement ceremony between MADO Yasar Ice Cream and Food Products Co. Inc., Venture Capital Bank and Al Sraiya Holding, Kaynak said that it is very important for dynamic institutions to form partnerships in Turkey while the world is going through a great economic recession.

Mehmet Kanbur, Chairman of MADO, stated that they tried to make the company an international brand and a model for branding for entrepreneurs in Turkey to aspire to.

Abdullatif Janahi, Chief Executive for Venture Capital Bank, pointed out that this is the bank’s third largest investment in Turkey, “We will continue to focus on this market with a promising economic future and solid. With the Turkish market becoming the fastest growing market in Europe, it is a strategic position for the companies in the food and beverage sector which we are confident of ourselves in and a leap forward for growth in the global market.”