The 13th General Assembly Meeting of Young MÜSİAD was held on Saturday, 23 March, at the MÜSİAD Head Office. Furkan Akbal was elected to the presidency of Young MÜSİAD at the General Assembly.

At the General Assembly, held with the participation of President Abdurrahman Kaan, Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology Hasan Büyükdede, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Halis Ersöz, Founding President of Young MÜSİAD and MÜSİAD Vice President Kerim Altıntaş, and members of MÜSAD and Young MÜSİAD, Furkan Akbal was elected to the presidency of Young MÜSİAD, succeeding Engin Akdağ.

Young MÜSİAD Is the Guarantee of Development

Outgoing Young MÜSİAD President Engin Akdağ said, “Young MÜSİAD is the guarantee of development. It is today's follower of the path of development. Young MÜSİAD is the present. Young MÜSİAD is the future. Since the day we were founded, we have never refrained from raising our voice against every injustice, oppression and hypocrisy we have witnessed. We were not among those who cowered when the oppressors struck, nor among those who bowed to terrorists. We did not, and will not, hold in esteem those who chase after opportunism while the country burns.”

Our Goal Is to Fly the Young MÜSİAD Flag in Every Corner of the World

Furkan Akbal, who was brought to the presidency of Young MÜSİAD as a result of the elections, said, “Young MÜSİAD today has more than 4 thousand members worldwide. We have 56 branches in Türkiye. Our dreams have gone beyond our borders; we have reached 20 branches abroad, but we say it is not enough. Flying our flag in every corner of the world with more branches is among our goals, and the motto of this term will be “change and action”, he stated.

We Govern Türkiye with What We Learned at MÜSİAD

Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology Hasan Büyükdede, for his part, said in his speech, “We came here by growing up and being trained within this community. We try to govern our country with the knowledge we acquired here and the culture we passed on to one another. You too will be trained here, and one day you will fill the positions we occupy today.”

Our Cause Is That National and Humane Values Be Preserved at All Times

Founding President of Young MÜSİAD and MÜSİAD Vice President Kerim Altıntaş pointed out that Young MÜSİAD is the symbol of change and renewal. Altıntaş made the following assessment: “ MÜSİAD is a voluntary formation. The fundamental concept that brought the people here together 30 years ago and has kept them together for 30 years no matter what is not self-interest, but loyalty to the cause. And our cause is that national and humane values be preserved at all times.”

MÜSİAD Is an Important Institution in the Development of Domestic and National Industry

Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Halis Ersöz, for his part, spoke as follows:

“MÜSİAD is an alternative institution of ours that has rendered important services to the development of Turkish industry and of national and domestic industry. MÜSİAD is a family that no one gives up on and that everyone is happy to be part of. I am sure that this vision, this approach, this understanding will continue forever, and that our young brothers will not refrain from their services when their terms of office come to an end.”

Youth Is MÜSİAD, MÜSİAD Is Youth

President Abdurrahman Kaan, for his part, stated that Young MÜSİAD is a strong step taken on the path of realizing our cause of civilization. Kaan said,“ We sowed our dreams in these lands nearly 30 years ago. We were very young people. We were eager, hopeful, hard-working hearts. And we still are. The seeds we sowed have sprouted. Our dreams have turned into MÜSİAD, which today takes root like a giant plane tree, giving shade and giving hope. Youth is not always a matter of age, but partly a matter of attitude. What we need is not to grow old, but a young maturity; fresh, vigorous, enthusiastic, dynamic, hopeful, open to life... like MÜSİAD. Youth is MÜSİAD. MÜSİAD is youth. Young MÜSİAD is one of the strong steps taken on the path of realizing our Cause of Civilization.”

The program came to an end following the presentation of gifts to the outgoing members of the Young MÜSİAD Board of Directors.