Avrupa Times/Birmingham- MÜSİAD UK hosted an exclusive networking event that brought together distinguished representatives of the Turkish and British business communities.
The event welcomed Her Excellency Füsun Aramaz, Consul General of Türkiye in Manchester, MP Tahir Ali, Chair of the APPG for Türkiye, former MP Khalid Mahmoud, Nasir Awan, President of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, Mehmet Hilmi Kağnıcı, Member of the MÜSİAD Headquarters Board of Directors, Murat Şükrü Acar, President of BTA, İsrafil Çimen, Chairman of MÜSİAD Taiwan, Osman Ulular, Chairman t of MÜSİAD Konya, along with numerous business leaders — gathering an esteemed audience of around 80 participants at the Park Regis Hotel, Birmingham. In her opening remarks, MÜSİAD UK Chairwoman Av. Türkan Akbaş highlighted that MÜSİAD operates across 84 countries, 100 global locations, and 82 provinces in Türkiye, representing over 14,000 members, making it one of Türkiye’s largest and most influential
business associations.
The event took on 30 October 2025
Akbaş stated:
“Today, we are here to build a strong bridge between Türkiye and the United Kingdom. By bringing together Konya’s manufacturing power and Birmingham’s innovative drive, this event will further strengthen cooperation between our two countries.” The programme also emphasised Konya’s industrial strength, being Türkiye’s sixth- largest industrial hub and a vital part of the country’s manufacturing backbone with key sectors including machinery, food, defence, and renewable energy. It was noted that Konya’s production capacity naturally complements Birmingham’s brand value, financial strength, and technological innovation ecosystem, creating significant opportunities for future collaboration. Highlights from the Speakers
• H.E. Füsun Aramaz (Consul General of Türkiye in Manchester): Expressed her delight in attending the event, noting her roots in Konya and the strong representation from the Konya branch. She also stated, “The visit of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Türkiye just two days ago is a clear reflection of the close ties between our nations. We, as representatives on the ground, are committed to further strengthening these relations.”
• Tahir Ali MP (Chair, APPG for Türkiye): Congratulated MÜSİAD UK President Türkan Akbaş for her successful leadership and expressed his full support for MÜSİAD’s continued growth in Birmingham, noting his willingness to contribute to strengthening business relations between the two nations.
• Khalid Mahmoud (Former Member of Parliament): As the first Muslim MP in the UK, he spoke about the importance of education and his ongoing efforts to create a lasting legacy for future generations.
• Nasir Awan (President, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce): Highlighted that Birmingham and the wider region hold economic potential comparable to London, adding, “This is the industrial and multi-sectoral heart of the country. We have long- standing business ties with Türkiye, and we aim to deepen them further. You came to visit us today, and I will be in Türkiye tomorrow — this reflects the strength of our active connection.”
• Mehmet Hilmi Kağnıcı (MÜSİAD Board Member): Emphasised that Konya’s first international visit to the UK was to Birmingham, saying, “As the UK’s second-largest city, Birmingham holds strategic importance for us. We look forward to welcoming all of you to Konya soon.”
• Osman Ulular (President, MÜSİAD Konya): Noted that Konya is Türkiye’s sixth- largest industrial city and that the visiting delegation included representatives from steel, food, packaging, machinery, and construction industries. He added, “This
meeting marks an important beginning between the two cities, and we hope the next event will take place in Konya.”
• Göktuğ Tenekeci (Programme Moderator): Shared that a year ago he had promised MP Tahir Ali and Nasir Awan to bring a Turkish business delegation to Birmingham. “One year and four days later, it is a joy to fulfil that promise today,” he said.
• Ömer Yasin Kurt (MÜSİAD UK Member): Expressed his pleasure in joining the MÜSİAD UK family, noting that he will continue to transform his individual initiatives into a more institutional framework under the MÜSİAD umbrella. He thanked the attendees and reaffirmed his commitment to fostering collaboration between Türkiye and the UK.
Throughout the evening, attendees also visited the stand of an Education Association, where products were showcased to support students through fundraising initiatives. The event concluded with a productive networking session, creating new business connections and paving the way for sustainable partnerships between Türkiye and the United Kingdom.
About MÜSİAD UK
Based in London, MÜSİAD UK is an independent business association dedicated to strengthening economic relations between Türkiye and the United Kingdom. Since its establishment, MÜSİAD UK has served as a vital bridge between the two nations, providing its members with a powerful international networking platform through engagement with parliaments, financial institutions, and sectoral organisations.
