FrankfurtRheinMain GmbH International Marketing of the Region (FRM GmbH) is currently in Ankara and Istanbul to further expand the Frankfurt RheinMain region’s international relations in Türkiye. FRM GmbH organised investment promotion events in both cities. At these events, Eric Menges, Managing Director of FRM GmbH, promoted the Frankfurt RheinMain region as a business location to representatives of Turkish companies.
FRM GmbH used the events ‘Frankfurt RheinMain meets Ankara’ and ‘Frankfurt RheinMain meets Istanbul’ to engage directly with Turkish companies, encouraging them to set up operations in the Frankfurt RheinMain region and to strengthen existing contacts.
“Thanks to its central location in the heart of Europe, Frankfurt RheinMain is an ideal base for companies with plans for international expansion. The region offers excellent infrastructure, one of the world’s most important transport hubs, and a strong, internationally connected business environment,” said Eric Menges, CEO of FRM GmbH. “Furthermore, our region has a vibrant and well-connected Turkish community. For several years now, we have been observing growing interest from Turkish companies in establishing a presence in our region. We are receiving an increasing number of enquiries from Türkiye regarding setting up operations, and Turkish firms are specifically interested in doing business in Frankfurt RheinMain.”
Strong local partners and direct access to decision-makers
In Ankara, FRM GmbH collaborated with the Turkish Confederation of Employers’ Associations (TİSK), represented by its Secretary-General, Mr Akansel Koç. TİSK is comparable to the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA) and offers direct access to the leadership of Turkish industry. Around 10,000 companies are represented within TİSK, accounting for some three million employees. The organisation comprises over 100 of the country’s top 500 companies, accounts for around 25 per cent of Turkey’s gross domestic product, and its member companies generate an export volume of approximately 100 billion US dollars. This ensured a particularly high concentration of CEOs and business owners at decision-making level.
In Istanbul, the event was organised in cooperation with DenizBank, represented by Group Manager Gonca Yılmazçetin. As part of the international Emirates NBD Group, the bank has total assets of over 1.5 trillion Turkish lira, employs more than 13,700 staff in Turkey alone and has a network of more than 600 branches there. This partnership enabled targeted access to financial, investor and technology circles, as well as to decision-makers in the corporate and SME sectors and in the field of digitalisation.
The strategic focus of the events generated considerable interest among numerous economic decision-makers. High-ranking representatives from the worlds of business, politics and public administration attended the events in Ankara and Istanbul. The widespread interest underscores the significant potential for closer economic cooperation and investment in both directions.
Istanbul is Türkiye’s economic hub and ranks among Europe’s most dynamic metropolitan regions. A large proportion of the country’s leading companies are based in this major international centre for trade and finance.
As the capital, Ankara is the political centre and, at the same time, an important hub for industry, technology and services, particularly in the fields of defence, administration and research.
Germany is one of the most important destinations for Turkish direct investment. Frankfurt RheinMain is one of the key hubs for Turkish companies seeking to expand internationally across the European continent. Numerous companies with Turkish roots operate in the region and contribute to its economic diversity and strength.