This year, like last year, has been quite challenging. Last year, we experienced the 15 July coup attempt. This year, the referendum and the negative economic outlook have made our work more challenging.
We are meeting our targets this year, albeit with some delays. These delays are primarily due to delays at the financial institutions we work with and the failure to keep some promises. Good luck to you. Despite everything, we are continuing at full speed.
Last year, we achieved many firsts. This year, we achieved more and achieved business growth. Let’s touch on our business-related achievements:
First of all, we set a goal to ensure that all companies are generally profitable. We are meeting this goal. We will make detailed announcements on this matter at the end of the year.
Our second important agenda item, the move to our new office, is 90% complete. We are working diligently to complete the remaining 10% by the holiday at the end of this month. Our building has turned out wonderfully, both in terms of design and usability. Designed to meet all the needs of our employees, it features a library, conference hall, café, fitness center, hair salon, and cafeteria. We look forward to welcoming you to our new office, with its atmosphere reminiscent of a university campus.
I’d also like to share some details about the companies:
1- EKORE
We have sold our first Solar Power Plant (SPP) in Konya Kulu. In addition to the Konya Kulu SPP, we have also commissioned our Osmaniye SPP project.
Following this, Konya Akören, Tokat, Antalya Kaş, and Aydın Didim will be commissioned. All necessary work for this is progressing at full speed. I’d like to share a video of our Osmaniye project:
Despite all the challenges, we are doing our best to attract foreign investors to Türkiye. If we are successful, we aim to complete a project exceeding 100 MW by the end of next year.
We also aim to complete our first project abroad this year. Our work is nearing completion. We plan to launch our first project in a country in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, or Central Asia. We will share the good news with you later. We declared the first production facility in Türkiye, covering module, cell, and wafer processes. Now, after all planning is completed for our project in Niğde Bor, we plan to begin construction this year and begin production next year. I’ve said it before, and I’ll reiterate: We want to create a global brand in Türkiye with the high-efficiency panels we will produce.
Meanwhile, our collaborations with major renewable energy brands continue. Most recently, we signed a fantastic agreement with KACO. Under this agreement, EkoRE will purchase the inverters from KACO, and KACO will donate 5% of its revenue to TIDER. This way, we will not only be using a valuable brand like KACO for the inverters, the heart of the system, while also installing solar power plants, the most effective way to prevent climate change, but we will also generate revenue for TIDER, whose mission is to catch fish while giving them fish. In other words, it’s a win-win-win.
I’d like to share a news article on this topic, published in Ekonomist:
2- MOKA
Moka, which has significantly increased its turnover, has turned cash flow positive since the second half of this year. This trend continues to grow. We also plan to upgrade our license from ‘Payment Institution’ to ‘E-Money License.’ Finally, our expansion into different sectors will continue. We will achieve surprising developments at Moka. Fintech, like renewable energy, is a sector we want to be involved in continuously. In this regard, we will take steps to support our long-term vision.
3- EKOCCS
The merger and integration were completed smoothly. Getting through this process with minimal disruption was thanks to the dedicated efforts of the entire team and managers. The industry has welcomed this merger very well. The number of customer representatives that emerged after the merger has reached 650 in the past eight months, up from 500. The number of companies seeking to work with us is increasing. We are by far the most popular call center serving the largest number of brands in Türkiye. We serve 125 brands, and the next most comprehensive call center serves 30 brands. We are the leader in retail and e-commerce. We are constantly expanding our sector range.
The picture we took on the day we officially announced the merger. EkoCCS’s two senior partners, Zekeriya Arslan, and myself, along with our General Manager, Serkan Başöz.
4- BONBON
There has been significant demand for our Wi-Fi Analytics program. As a startup, Bonbon professionals, operating with a relatively small team, are struggling to keep up with the high demand. We have also begun signing major contracts. We will share good news at the end of the year.
5- BASIC NEEDS ASSOCIATION (TIDER)
This year has been quite busy for TIDER. In March, we won the Global Foodbanking Network’s (GFN) first-ever ‘Innovation Award.’ Over 70 food bank professionals voted for this competition, winning it with our Human Resources (HR) program. The fact that food banks voted for our HR module, which will accelerate vocational training, means that food banking will also change. I’d like to share my previous article on this: http://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/global-bir-stk-olma-yolundaki-tidere-buyuk-odul
We have launched our Support Cloud – HR software, a key component of our HR program. This is a fantastic development. Our association, whose primary mission is to teach people how to fish while giving them fish, will significantly accelerate its vocational training efforts thanks to this software. To help you visualize this, we’ve developed a blue-collar version of the Kariyer.net program. This means that a company’s HR manager, using kariyer.net or yenibiris.com for white-collar workers and eleman.net for blue-collar workers, can simply ask “Let me check TIDER’s database” and invite registered employees for interviews. Similarly, registered employees can identify open positions in their field and apply. Congratulations!
We’ve accelerated our efforts to open a new Support Market on the Bağcılar-Esenler line. We aim to open this new location in September. After supporting 5,000 families in Maltepe, we will support 100,000 families in Bağcılar. Our goal here is to meet the basic needs of families in need, such as food, cleaning products, and clothing, and to provide employment and career opportunities for family members who can work, enabling them to become self-sufficient. While doing all this, we are also fulfilling another important mission: preventing waste.
We have launched our accreditation program. Starting in Istanbul, we will soon accredit numerous organizations, raise their standards, and ensure they receive product.
In addition to the Istanbul Marathon we ran last year, we participated in the Antalya Runtalya Run this year. Our feverish preparations for the Istanbul Marathon, which will take place in November, continue. This time, we will pursue good deeds with the slogan “With the TIDER Effect, Your Steps Become Giants.”
Adım Adım and TIDER officials together at a sports and fitness event.
Our association’s General Manager, Ezgi Özkök, has been making a positive impact since she took office in June. I’m personally pleased to see that I was right. I previously wrote an article on this subject: http://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/dunya-ne-zaman-iyilikle-donmeye-baslayacak
We are also undertaking a professional restructuring of our Support Markets. Ersin Çeker, an experienced P&G veteran, has been appointed to lead this structure. Support Markets will be managed with the professionalism of an international retail chain. There’s no doubt about that.
I wish the entire team at TIDER success.
6- COSTA RICA HONORARY CONSULATE
This year, we accomplished two important projects during my time as Costa Rica’s honorary consul. First, we successfully completed the exhibition of prominent Costa Rican artist Jose Sancho at the Pera Museum from 31 May – 7 August. I’d like to share my article on this topic with you again: http://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/jose-sancho-sergisi-bir-sanat-ve-dostluk-oykusu
Some of the artworks in the exhibition
Secondly, an event was held at the Pera Museum, organized by Costa Rica’s trade agency, Procomer, for businesspeople interested in doing business in Costa Rica. Participants not only learned valuable information about Costa Rica but also visited the Jose Sancho exhibition while they were there.
In September, we will be organizing the Latin Festival (Fiesta Latina) with the significant contributions of Costa Rican officials serving in Türkiye (including us). We will share the details with you later. We’re sure to have a lot of fun at the Latin Festival!
*****
Now, let me share some information about my personal life.
I’ve started regular running training. It’s going well. Having a gym near my home and a fitness center at my office keeps me close to sports. This is a great opportunity for me. We also occasionally run in the Çekmeköy (Taşdelen) Forest with our Adım Adım representative, Pınar, and other running enthusiasts. This is a wonderful experience for me.
A photo from our run in Çekmeköy Forest
The other day, before meetings in Niğde, I was running on the track surrounding the football field inside Niğde Stadium at 6 a.m. As I was getting ready to leave the stadium after over an hour of training, one of the walkers approached me, and the following conversation ensued:
– Are you preparing for a competition?
– No, I’m running for fun.
– Where do you go to school?
– (After taking off my hat) I’m a businessman. We came here to invest. We’re going to invest in solar energy.
– Oh my God. How old are you?
– 40
– Godspeed. You were so young from sports back then.
– (Smiling) Yes, it is. I wish you good sports, too.
– Thank you.
Also, this summer I started a new sport that has fueled my passion for sports: Kitesurfing. I took my first lesson in Gökçeada. Then I continued in Akyaka, Muğla. I reached a good level in a few days. I’m happy; I enjoy this sport immensely. It’s a different discipline than skiing, and you’re harnessing the power of nature, becoming part of the wind. What more could I ask for? 🙂
A shot from Gökçeada
I plan to start Pilates soon. I really need this for both my posture and flexibility. Best of luck.
I’ve been so relieved since moving my home from Nişantaşı to Çekmeköy, closer to my office. My productivity at work has doubled or tripled. I enjoy sleeping comfortably in the quiet environment of the forest. I’ve always loved Nişantaşı, but I think I made the right decision at this stage of my life. Also, on some summer days when the heat and humidity can be such a drag, Çekmeköy is 2-3° C. cooler than Istanbul’s city center, and the high oxygen levels are a huge advantage. I recommend living in a natural environment instead of being lost in concrete.
A photo I took with my cousin’s daughter in the garden of my house
My electric car has been in repair for a year due to battery issues. Thankfully, Renault finally delivered it. I’m glad I got my electric car. However, I also want to buy a Tesla, the best in the industry. I hope to make that happen after the positive developments in business.
I’d also like to share with you the in-car interview I conducted at the Footprints of the Future – First 1000 Days Summit and the program Along the Way in the first half of the year.
My speech at the Footprints of the Future – First 1000 Days Summit 2017: http://www.tivuu.com/video/120244035/Serhan_SUZER___Eko_Grubu_Yonetim_Kurulu_Baskani
My interview on the program Along the Way: https://youtu.be/gMBccZJnvM4
This concludes my semester report. I won’t be writing anything else in August. I’ll take a break for a bit. I’ll pick up where I left off in September. I take this break at the end of each year, in August, and on official holidays like Eid. Apart from this, I’ll be sharing my thoughts, experiences, knowledge, experience, and feelings with you every week.
As we enter August, I hope you have the best time this last part of summer. Farewell for now.
Tag: memoir
