The Press Release of the UN Global Compact National Network Turkey

“Sustainability efforts are becoming a prerequisite of funding and financing”

The delegation of the banking community of Turkey chaired by Dr. Yılmaz Argüden, Representative of the UN Global Compact Network Turkey met with the representatives of banking community of Netherlands to share their experience in sustainability activities.

The delegation of the banking community of Turkey consisting of top managers of Akbank, Bank Pozitif, Garanti Bankası, İNG Bank, Odeabank, Şekerbank, TSKB, Türkiye İş Bankası, Vakıfbank, Yapı Kredi Bankası and representatives of BDDK and SPK met with experts from FMO (Entrepreneurial Development Bank of Netherlands), Holland Financial Centre, ABN Amro, ING, Rabobank, GRI, Equator Principles Association Steering Committee, FMO, Amsterdam Municipality and NYSE Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange, to discuss the role of sustainability studies in funding and financing.

Dr. Argüden spoke as follows: “Global financial markets are considering sustainability activities related to the environment, social impact, human rights and the fight against corruption as a prerequisite of funding and financing. This sectoral cooperation between National Networks of Netherlands and Turkey is a first in the history of the UN Global Compact.”

(Amsterdam, March 29th, 2013) Last year 400th Anniversary of the trade relations between Turkey and Netherlands was celebrated. The Istanbul visit of the Prime Minister Mart Rutte initiated information sharing between Turkish and Dutch companies on sustainable business. For instance, the handbook of Business and Human Rights of the United Nation Global Compact Network Netherlands was translated to Turkish. In this context, yesterday (March 27th, 2013) a round table meeting was organized by UN Global Compact Networks Netherlands and Turkey and hosted by the secretariat of the UN Global Compact Network Hague was held at the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers.

With the arrival of high level representatives of the Turkish banking and finance community to Amsterdam, a two day meeting of dialogue and information sharing titled “Sustainable Banking in Practice: Managing Risks and Creating Opportunities” has been launched today. Dr. Yılmaz Argüden, Representative of the UN Global Compact National Network Turkey, top managers of Akbank, Bank Pozitif, Garanti Bankası, İNG Bank, Odeabank, Şekerbank, TSKB, Türkiye İş Bankası, Vakıfbank, Yapı Kredi Bankası and high level representatives of BDDK, SPK, TİSK, FMO (Entrepreneurial Development Bank of Netherlands), Holland Financial Centre and ARGE Consulting participated to the meeting. The 25-person Turkish delegation met with experts from ABN Amro, ING, Rabobank, GRI, Equator Principles Association Steering Committee, FMO, Amsterdam Municipality and NYSE Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange

UN Global Compact Network Turkey is extending its activities to various sectors since 2009 and setting up specific Working Groups. The dialogue created an opportunity for the Network Netherland to be informed about the process of sectoral deployment of the Network Turkey while the representatives of the Turkish banking and finance community was introduced to the best practices in Netherlands.

This cooperation between two National Networks with a specific sector in focus is a first in the history of the UN Global Compact.

The Turkish delegation concluded the first day with a visit to the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, and attending to the closing ceremony in company with the CEO of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange.

In more than 100 countries, UN Global Compact Networks operate with the aim of adoption of the Global Compact principles and campaigns by countries and cultures and provides a platform where companies can come together and cooperate on sustainability issues.