The Diplomat
The Spanish-Turkish Chamber of Commerce, last Thursday, recognised the professional career of BBVA’s CEO, Onur Genç, at a ceremony in which he underlined the bank’s role as a link between Turkey and important markets such as Spain and Latin America.
The award, in the category of professional merit, is in recognition of Onur Genç’s role as the first Turkish-born CEO of a global bank of Spanish origin. “It is an honour for me to have been awarded by the Spanish-Turkish Chamber of Commerce. Receiving this award that connects two countries that are so close to each other is a great satisfaction for me,” said Genç during the award ceremony.
The BBVA’s CEO highlighted the importance of trade relations between Spain and Turkey, with a total volume of trade expected to reach 18 billion euros by the end of 2022.
In this regard, Genç stated that Turkey can act as a gateway to Asia for Spanish companies and at the same time, Spain can act as a gateway to Latin America for Turkish companies. “BBVA wants to and can play a key role here, given our global nature,” he said.
BBVA began its journey in Turkey in 2011, when it bought a 25% stake in Garanti from the Dogus Group. Since then, BBVA has been increasing its stake until recently reaching 86% of the bank. “Our commitment to the country is total. Garanti BBVA is the best bank in Turkey,” said Onur Genç.
Fernando Valdés Verelst, Secretary of State for Tourism, and Burak Akçapar, Turkish Ambassador in Madrid, were present at the event. In 2017, BBVA won the same awards in the Spanish Company category. BBVA has been a founding member of the Chamber since 2011.
The Chamber wants to recognise, through these awards, those Spanish and Turkish people and companies that through their activity and dedication have stood out for their contribution to a greater mutual knowledge or a higher level of interrelation between both countries.
In this seventh edition, the Barceló Group was also recognised in the Spanish company category, for promoting the tourism sector; and in the Turkish company category, Arkas Logistics, for promoting logistics trade between the two countries.
The Official Spanish-Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Industry was inaugurated in Madrid in 2011, with the purpose of promoting and assisting in the strengthening of relations between the two countries in all sectors of activity. The Board of Directors includes major Spanish and Turkish groups such as BBVA, Turkish Airlines, Amadeus, Banco Sabadell, CaixaBank, DLA Piper, Mapfre, Roca, the Investment Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey, Font & Yildiz, Navantia, Sampa, Orka Holding, Vestel Iberia and Zumosol. The Chamber is supported by official institutions, being honorary partners the Embassy of Spain in Turkey and the Embassy of Turkey in Spain.
