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Istanbul is the heart beat of Turkey for business.  In this rapidly changing environment, one thing remains the same ,the small business world. Therefore, everybody know each other. In Istanbul, human aspect of relationships, especially the friendships, are very important. Strong family ties and personal relationships may play a significant role.

So it may be hard to keep secrets in business life. Most business is done according to verbal agreements. Written committments are difficult to obtain. Verbal part of business is always bigger than the written part. The value of a handshakes is the  businessmen’s pride since people are very emotional and there is more place for feelings.

Turkish people are smart, intelligent, hardworking and reliable with high morality and enthusiasm, they generaly stick to their word.  However the value put on procedures and systems is tend to increase when doing business with internationals. Due to working in extreme business conditions, they are very flexible in adopting and always look for external ideas and other ways of working.  This enables the businessmen to decide very fast and start business very aggressively.

The education standards are high in the young generation and almost everybody  knows a second  language. You may call them visionary Yankees who are open to learning and willing to work. The old generation tends to continue to think in hierarchical terms. They are mostly the boss type and are distant to their employees. Obedience to authority is very much dominant in every aspect of life and people like to follow a leader. The education system is based on learning by heart and is not suitable to direct people to questioning.

Doing Business in Istanbul, one prefers to create a friendly business atmosphere in their business dealings by devoting more time to the human side of the business. When it comes to deal executions, you will face expert negotiators in a very positive atmosphere that brings a lot of compromise and create things that  work for mutual profitability..

Istanbul life has so much to offer to prepare this groud work for business. New ideas pop up like the stars in the Bosphorus and ventures are brought to day light from dusk till dawn.  Competition is swift and challenges you to find the new new thing. Once it is announced and lead ther will be followers.

Please allow me to be your friend “businessguide” in Istanbul, able and ready to assist you through your  business endeavours.

Our relationship starts here, in Istanbullife where  enchanted and mystic experiences come along.

Nihat Dincmen, is a senior consultant for an international non-government organization which specializes in business competitiveness and industrial strategy.

Nihat Dincmen

nihat@istanbullife.org

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