Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK)'s foremost purpose is to pave the way for Turkeys economic, commercial, industrial and financial relations with foreign countries as well as international business communities. DEIK is convinced that in order to achieve this target, prerequisites are increasing industrial cooperation, widening the foreign trade network, and opening the Turkish service sector up to the world economy.

DEIK has undertaken the mission of effective integration of Turkey's economy into the globalizing world economy. Acting on this mission, DEIK makes every endeavor to find new fields of cooperation in foreign markets. At the same time, DEIK strives for better utilization of existing business opportunities for various sectors. DEIK also makes an active effort to promote Turkey and the Turkish economy abroad in order to accelerate the business development in various parts of Turkey through “green field” investments. Reciprocally, informing Turkish businessmen about the existing business opportunities abroad constitutes one of DEIKs important tasks.

In this respect, DEIK is committed to maintain firm and close cooperation with its “counterpart organizations” including exchange of business information. Therefore, DEIK aims to provide a platform where the business community can meet to discuss issues that would contribute to the improvement of mutual understanding and business cooperation. DEIK acts as an intermediary between the public and private sector due to its close working relations with all governmental bodies and private sector institutions in Turkey, as well as relevant public authorities and private sector organizations in foreign countries.
Due to its close collaboration with its “founding institutions” DEIK is able to expand its fields of service far beyond its direct members by embracing also the members of these institutions operating throughout Turkey. Therefore, the country-wide activities enabled DEIK to become an institution coordinating the foreign economic relations of the Turkish private sector.

DEIKs bilateral Business Councils are established by the interested Turkish companies and a cooperation agreement is signed with foreign counterparts for the purpose of conducting the mission of promoting business relations more effectively. Bilateral Business Councils ensure an effective follow-up mechanism and a continuous flow of information to member companies on trade and industrial cooperation possibilities.

Business Councils consist of two sections, one is the Turkish side and the other side is a counterpart institution in the relevant country, which is usually a representative body of the country's private sector. The Councils meet regularly each year at a time convenient for both sides. As of April 2009, there are 82 bilateral business councils operating under DEIK by which operational services for the Turkish side are provided.

The Turkish sides of Business Councils are formed by member companies who have already undertaken business relations or who plan to develop such relations with each relevant country. Turkish companies are free to take part in every group of business councils which are divided into 10 different regions under the general secreteriat of DEIK.

In addition to organizing Business Councils' activities, DEIK also takes a proactive and direct role in the cooperation of both regional and international organizations. DEIK is entitled to represent Turkey on the Black Sea Economic Cooperation - a Business Council which brings together the business communities of 12 participating regional countries.

DEIK maintains a business portal providing comprehensive information for foreign businessmen on the Turkish economy and DEIK activities. “Turkey in Figures” and “Business Guide to Turkey” and various sector reports are prepared and circulated by DEIK. In order to enrich business information and knowledge for the businessmen who are following the recent improvements in the world, DEIK collaborates with the exclusive research institutions like Oxford Business Group (OBG). In this context annual book series of “Emerging Turkey”, produced as a result of fruitful cooperation between DE‹K and OBG, has gained worldwide interest.

The DEIK Secreteriat General carries out necessary activities such as research, coordination and organization required by all business councils. The Secretariat General manages and supervises all the activities of the business council and its relations with other private sector institutions, embassies and ministries as well as counterpart organizations of partner countries.

Furthermore, the DEIK Secreteriat General is the responsible body to set up, coordinate and supervise all the relations of DEIK with various international and regional economic, financial, research institutions and universities both in related countries and in Turkey.

President : M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu

Executive Chairman : Rona Yırcalı

Secretary General : Ufuk Yılmaz