According to Yapı Kredi Bank General Manager Faik Açıkalın, within the next 50 years, Istanbul will become one of the world's most important cities in terms of geopolitics, culture, history and commerce. Açıkalın says, "Hosting the 2020 Olympics would mark the crowning of all of these factors."
How will you be contributing to the Olympics?
We are extremely proud to be amongst the establishments that will be promoting Turkey for this competition. We will explain with all of our might that Istanbul is the best candidate for the 2020 Olympics.
What sort of economic contribution are you expecting for Istanbul?
I believe that within the next 50 years, Istanbul will become one of the world's most important cities in terms of geopolitics, culture, history and commerce. The efforts that began with the vision of transforming the city into a financial center, have now become even more ambitious with the investment for a new airport. Our plans to turn the city into a financial center are progressing according to our goals. The 2020 Olympics would be the symbol marking the crowning of all of these efforts. It will pave the way for tourism, as well as both infrastructure and superstructure investments.
For how long will you continue to sponsor the UEFA Champions League?
We were included in this organization through the sponsorship of our main shareholder UniCredit. Our sponsorship will continue for three years.
What are your expectations?
We have used a variety of special applications and different mediums that go beyond the stadium activities in Champions League games such as social media projects and internal communication efforts. Therefore we have maximized the return on our investment while also producing entertaining applications for football lovers.
WE PLACE HIGH IMPORTANCE ON THE SUPPORT WE GIVE OUR COUNTRY
As a company, what are the expectations for your brand?
We feel that Yapı Kredi offers an important banking service for European visitors. Our main shareholder UniCredit operates in 22 European nations. We have a direct and organic relationship with the banks there. From this perspective, our brand recognition could increase. However, we are much more excited by thinking about what this support through Istanbul could offer our country.
This is a translation of an article originally written by Birsu Eren.
