16.09.2019 Ankara
Amazon, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and Boğaziçi University are launching e-export education programs throughout Turkey to contribute to the e-commerce export efforts of Turkish SMEs.
Witnessed
by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu the protocol for the launch of
e-export training for SMEs was signed by TOBB Board Member Zeki Kıvanç and the
Rector of Boğaziçi University. Dr. Mehmet Özkan and Vice President for Growth
of Amazon Europe Alex Ootes at the ceremony held at TOBB.
Training
seminars will be provided by Boçaziçi University Lifelong Learning Center
experts throughout Turkey in chambers of commerce and industry affiliated with TOBB.
The seminars, covering topics such as e-export related opportunities, export
business growth path and sales opportunities offered by Amazon, aim to reach
2,000 SMEs in Turkey during the 2019-2020 period, with 40 training seminars in
20 provinces.
In
his speech at the signing ceremony, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu
emphasized that the world is moving faster with digital technologies, “While
those unable to adapt to this pace are thrown to the curb, there are
opportunities for those who can adapt. One of these opportunities is e-export.
We are starting a new collaboration with Amazon and Boğaziçi University to
develop e-export skills of our SMEs. E-export is a very effective tool to
increase the number of exporters and the countries we export to as well as the
number of exports. In the past, exporting companies had to establish a sales
and marketing network in their target markets or find a vehicle to sell their
products. The times have changed. SMEs have direct access to consumers abroad
through e-commerce platforms. In cooperation with Amazon and Boğaziçi
University, we will teach our SMEs how to use the Amazon platform for export to
Europe. SME will offer its product to European consumers through Amazon.”
Speaking
about the cooperation agreement, the Rector of Boğaziçi University. Dr. Mehmet Özkan
reported that the Boçaziçi University Lifelong Learning Center organizes many training
programs for small and medium-sized enterprises and the business world in
Turkey to contribute to the development of the private sector.
Özkan
stated that Boğaziçi University considers providing information produced for
the benefit of the society and supporting social development as an important
goal. Özkan emphasized that this protocol is very important for the development
of SMEs and emphasized that this study will make thousands of SMEs export more
easily abroad, thus creating a business model that will improve business
volumes.
Stating
that they will open the doors to export in e-commerce to SMEs with e-export
program from Turkey, Vice President for Growth of Amazon Europe Alex Ootes
said, “We are very excited to bring together millions of our customers with Turkish
SMEs known for their entrepreneurial spirit. This cooperation we have
established with TOBB and Boğaziçi University we are happy to find opportunity
to be in closer contact with SMEs which comprise more than 90% of
establishments in Turkey. We started e-exports from Turkey as a part of our
work for development and empowerment of SMEs as Amazon. We are opening the way for
e-exports for SMEs with this cooperation. As Amazon, we want to bring Turkish
brands to the international arena by bringing together Turkish SMEs with
millions of customers.”