BRIDGING CONTINENTS
Germany is Turkey's most important trading partner with a substantial bilateral market. Many Turkish companies have chosen to set up in North Rhine-Westphalia, with Düsseldorf being one of the most popular locations.
Building bridges: Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Aziz Sariyar, Chairman of the Board of ATIAD e.V., attended the German- Turkish Business Day 2024 in Düsseldorf.
The German-Turkish Business Day attracts international guests from the worlds of business and politics. The next event will take place on 18 April 2026.
According to the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Economic Affairs, there are 1,170 Turkish companies in North Rhine-Westphalia alone, providing 5,200 jobs. Last year, these companies generated almost 700 million Euro in turnover, accounting for around 22 per cent of the total turnover of the 3,000 Turkish companies throughout Germany. Aziz Sariyar is the chairman of ATIAD, an economic organisation that has been working throughout Europe since 1992 on behalf of Turkish companies from all conceivable sectors.
He emphasises that ATIAD is not a political association and does not represent any particular opinion or government. It is also not affiliated with any religious group. ‘We focus on economic relations, and over time, social issues have been added to our remit, for which we act as a point of contact. We also build bridges and refer our members to the relevant authorities, institutions, local authorities and the state government,’ Aziz Sariyar continues. ATIAD also regularly organises seminars, lectures and workshops for all interested parties, including those outside the association. ‘Our most important event is the annual German-Turkish Business Day with international guests from politics and business, which will take place for the ninth time on 18 April 2026.’ ATIAD is involved in the Turkish community, supporting young people entering the world of work and encouraging entrepreneurs to provide training. The association also helps small family businesses to professionalise and solve succession problems.
‘Many Turkish companies have come to North Rhine- Westphalia or invested here in recent years. Conversely, German entrepreneurs are somewhat more cautious due to the political situation in Turkey. So, while we can certainly talk about a German-Turkish friendship, there is still room for improvement,‘ summarises Aziz Sariyar. People of Turkish origin in Germany have evolved from being workers to employers, and are not only entrepreneurs in many industries, but also executives, managers or CEOs, lawyers and doctors. This is a positive development. ‘We should tell more success stories,’ he says.
Turkish entrepreneur Ercivan Yagmur (second from left), founder and managing director of Babgencel GmbH, has a success story to tell. Among other things, his company produces professional and medical disinfectants for hospitals.
One such success story is that of Turkish entrepreneur Ercivan Yagis, founder and managing director of Babgencel GmbH, which produces professional and medical disinfectants for hospitals, among other things. ‘In order to strengthen our presence on the European market, we founded Babgencel GmbH in Düsseldorf in 2018,’ he explains. The start in the state capital went smoothly for him, partly thanks to the contacts made with NRW. Global Business. ‘The Turkish representative Dr Adem Akkaya and his team have been very supportive from the outset,’ says Yagis. In his view, Turkish companies have improved their standing significantly on the German and pan-European markets in recent years. They now compete on quality, flexibility and speed as well as price, strengthening not only their position, but also German-Turkish relations. ‘These relations have been deeply rooted and multifaceted for years and are not limited to economic cooperation.’ Ercivan Yagis' decision to locate his company headquarters in Düsseldorf was based not only on its geographical location, but also on the great economic power of North Rhine-Westphalia and the international companies, industrial areas, good infrastructure and presence of institutions such as the AHK, ATIAD, the Turkish-German Business Association (TDU) and the Turkish-German Chamber of Commerce.
‘Over time, I have learned that expertise, authenticity and perseverance are stronger than any prejudice,’ says Esma Gulten, co-founder and managing director at Gizil. She is pictured here with her team at AUTOMA 2025.
The technology company Gizil also chose Düsseldorf as its location and has enjoyed remarkable success. ‘We help industrial facilities such as chemical parks, refineries and tank terminals to make the transition from traditional to digital and data-driven working methods,’ explains Esma Gulten, engineer and co-founder and managing director at Gizil.
‘The ATIAD team quickly integrated us into the local business network, which helped us a lot,’ she says. NRW.Global Business encouraged Gizil to choose North Rhine-Westphalia and Düsseldorf as its location, and the Start2 Group and digihub Düsseldorf/Rheinland subsequently supported its internationalisation. Esma Gulten also sees German-Turkish relations as extending beyond the economic sphere: ‘They have grown on a human, cultural and emotional level. More and more entrepreneurs with Turkish roots are shaping the German innovation landscape – especially in technology and sustainability.’ She sees her position as a woman in a male-dominated industry as an opportunity. ‘Over time, I have learned that expertise, authenticity and perseverance are stronger than any prejudice.’
Gizil is currently expanding rapidly in the global market. Esma Gulten sees the city of Düsseldorf as a good home base for her company. She also feels very comfortable here personally. ‘Düsseldorf is diverse, dynamic and international. It's a place where business and life work equally well.‘ •
„Over time, I have learned that expertise, authenticity and perseverance are stronger than any prejudice“
Words: Katja Vaders
Pictures: ATIAD e. V., Babgencel GmbH, GiZiL intern