Led by the TOBB Young Entrepreneurs Council (GGK) and hosted by the Ordu Young Entrepreneurs Council, with the support of our stock exchange, the “Ordu Young Entrepreneurship Summit” was held on June 18, 2026.
During the opening remarks of the summit, our board chairman, Ziver Kahraman, addressed the young entrepreneurs as follows:
“I greet you all with love, respect, and affection.
I am deeply pleased to be here with you today on the occasion of the ‘Ordu Young Entrepreneurs Council Summit.’ Witnessing the enthusiasm, drive to create, and hopes for the future among our young people at this meaningful event gives us strength.
Distinguished guests!
Entrepreneurship is not merely about starting a business. Entrepreneurship is about being able to dream, take risks, innovate, and develop solutions to society’s needs. The spirit of entrepreneurship lies at the heart of a nation’s economic development, technological progress, and social well-being.
With its young population, dynamic economy, and strong culture of production, Turkey possesses immense potential in the realm of entrepreneurship. The successful startups that have emerged in recent years across various sectors—including technology, software, the defense industry, agricultural technologies, e-commerce, and the creative industries—clearly demonstrate our country’s strength in this field.
However, entrepreneurship is not a new concept for us. Entrepreneurship and productivity have always held an important place in the ancient culture of Anatolia. Over the centuries, the people living on these lands have established trade routes, produced goods, exported them, formed guilds, and integrated economic life with moral values through the Ahilik culture. The hard work, courage, and productive capacity of the people of Anatolia remain one of the most important sources of inspiration for our young entrepreneurs today.
Our city of Ordu is one of the key representatives of this ancient legacy. Ordu is a city that has always kept the entrepreneurial spirit alive in agriculture, trade, industry, and the service sector. Thanks to our people—who produce the world’s highest-quality hazelnuts, contribute to exports, and never give up on production—our province is growing stronger economically with each passing day.
Dear Participants!
Approximately 95 percent of the businesses that form the backbone of Turkey’s economy are family-owned companies. These companies not only generate economic value but also pass on knowledge, experience, and cultural heritage from one generation to the next.
However, the sustainability of family-owned businesses today depends on the younger generations taking an active role within these structures. This is precisely where a culture of youth entrepreneurship takes on great importance. Thanks to our young people’s innovative perspectives, their ability to leverage the opportunities offered by the digital world, and their capacity to adapt quickly to change, our family-owned businesses will be carried into the future with greater strength.
The fact that businesses founded through the hard work of the first generation are developed and sustained by the second, third, and even fourth generations is of immense value for our country’s economic stability. The spirit of youth entrepreneurship is one of the most important forces that extends the lifespan of family businesses and carries them into the future.
Dear young people!
When the founder of our Republic, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, addressed the nation with the words “O Turkish youth!” at the end of his Great Speech, he was speaking not just to one generation, but to all future generations. This address is the strongest expression of the trust placed in young people and the responsibility entrusted to them.
Atatürk entrusted the protection, development, and advancement of the Republic of Turkey to the youth. Today, we, too, know that our country’s growth, development, and attainment of a stronger position in global competition will be possible only through the energy, knowledge, vision, and entrepreneurial spirit of our youth.
You are the ones who will bring new ideas to life.
You are the ones who will develop new technologies.
You are the ones who will create new brands and achieve new export successes.
For this reason, every investment made in our youth is, in fact, an investment in Turkey’s future.
Distinguished guests!
One of our country’s greatest advantages is its young and dynamic population. While many developed countries around the world are grappling with the problem of an aging population, Turkey possesses a significant opportunity thanks to its young human resources.
That is why we look to the future with hope.
The rising educational levels of our youth, their interest in technology, their participation in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and their close engagement with global developments give us all confidence in our country’s future.
All we need to do is provide opportunities for our youth.
All we need to do is believe in their dreams.
All we need to do is support their determination to create and succeed.
Then, achieving the goals of the “Century of Turkey” will be much easier.
As I conclude my remarks, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to organizing this meaningful summit, and I wish all our young entrepreneurs—who will shape the future of our country and our province of Ordu—every success.
May your path be clear, your horizons broad, and your successes everlasting.
I greet you all with respect and affection. Thank you.”
