THEIR ROOTS ARE IN ANATOLIA
Tuncay Ozilhan and Zeynel Abidin Erdem... They came to Istanbul from Anatolia, one from Kayseri, the other from Mardin. The new candidate for presidency is also from Kayseri...
They are model businessmen in the Turkish business world with theirtions. One is aggressive-, the other has a more conservative style. Tuncay Ozilhan with his investments from Adriatic to China is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Anadolu Group that has an endorsement of nearly 5 billion dollars. He draws attention with his partnership with Coca Cola from Asia to Middle East. The partnership he has with Greek Alfa Bank is not limited to Turkey. Anadolu Group's experiences in Russia and Turkic Republics also encourage them to invest in different countries. A Turkish beer brand Efes Pilsen's success story already exceeded the country's boarders. Anadolu Group that was established by İzzet Özilhan and Kamil Yazıcı continues its development in international arena with the leadership of Tuncay Özilhan. Group's story started in a small convenience store years ago. It continued in Tahtakale. They have seen difficult days. Tuncay Özilhan learned about the basics of business life during those times.
Then, his family sent him to the US. After he finished his studies in School of Economics, he had his MBA in business University.
He was completely ready for business life when he came back from the States. Tuncay Özilhan who was TUSlAD's chairman for a term and tried television programming with 'Cirak' (Apprentice) show is now saving all his energy for the growth of Anadolu Group... One of his common traits with Zeynel Abidin Erdem is definitely being the tallest businessmen of Turkey. Even though Zeynel Abidin Erdem used to play basketball but he is now only a spectator, Tuncay Özilhan has a great role for the birth of Efes Pilsen, Turkey's best basketball team. Tuncay Özilhan provided Pusath village with water in recent years. He did it despite of Public Waterworks Administration (DSI) who visited the village several years ago and said "There is no water here." To tell about what Zeynel Abidin Erdem did for Mardin can be a subject of a book. It's very difficult to think of Zeynel Abidin without Mardin and Mardin without Zeynel Abidin... Zeynel Abidin Erdem who criticizes the policies of Bush says. "All my attention is in Mardin. There is a war going on near is what matters to me most."
Zeynel Abidin Erdem continues, "We came from Anatolia in 1964 like Mr. Tuncay." He is from the prophet's family. His capital was ready when he first got into business life. He is a chemical engineer. That is the reason why his first business is about his occupation: chemical substance import and export. "Right candidate" Zeynel Abidin Erdem is in Istanbul for the last 40 years. Although Erdem's family took a hit during Democratic Party period, it did not take long for them to put themselves together. 300 years old mansion is his family's meeting point. He had a personal relationship with Turgut Özal. He knows him from the times that Turgut Özal's father was working clerk in Mardin and they were living in Mardin. Erdem is known as a 'civilian diplomat' in business world. He is the founder and honorary president of Turkish American Business Association (TABA).
He is the long term honorary consol of Spain and Sudan... He has a great role in the development of the business relations between Turkey most important names in the Turkey wing of Alliance of Civilizations' Project. He has a key role in the relations with Spain. "Spain gave their CASA planes to Turkey with low interest for 37 years during the time when European countries laid a virtual embargo in our struggle against terrorism. This was an important sign of confidence from Spain" says Zeynel Abidin Erdem. Today Erdem Holding has 2 thousand 600 hundred employees according to 2006 data. Group's company GENPA with its 3 thousand sales points has the fifth place in Interpro Media's 'First 500 Informatics Companies' and first place in cell phones category. About the upcoming President of the Republic elections both businessmen Tuncay Özilhan and Zeynel Abidin Erdem prefer that Tayyip Erdogan does not let go off being the prime minister. Erdem describes the newly announced candidate for presidency as: "Businessman, bureaucrat and politician. He is a master of consensus."