Why Finland?
Get to know Ms Evren Dönmez, the newly elected Chairperson of DEİK Türkiye-Finland Business Council and her mission to enhance the collaboration and trade between the two nations!
"Upon graduating with honors from Istanbul Technical University (ITU) with a degree in Environmental Engineering, I pursued a master's degree in Business Administration. My career journey began as a proposal engineer in the Milan office of a US-based Water Treatment Company. During my early twenties, I set my sights on international business, fueled by the ambition instilled in me by my family's company, ARTAS(Link to another website.), established in 1982. ARTAS pioneered the Cleantech sector in Türkiye, filling a critical gap in the market for specialized design and construction of water and wastewater treatment plants.
What makes our story unique is that it was my mother, an engineer herself, who founded the company and passed on to me, as a second-generation woman manager, a special mission: to empower women in technological leadership. In a landscape where women entrepreneurs are often associated with cafes, restaurants, or handcrafts, we stand as engineers and business leaders, guiding our company through more than four decades of innovation and excellence.
Finland holds a special place in this narrative. For over 30 years, we have maintained a fruitful trade relationship with Finnish companies. In 2015, we took a significant step by establishing our presence in Finland, now located in Otaniemi in the Aalto University Campus area. Our primary aim was to leverage Finland's robust R&D ecosystem while harnessing Türkiye's strength in high-quality manufacturing. This strategic alignment bore fruit as we collaborated on numerous R&D projects with municipalities such as Vihti and Mikkeli. Our wastewater treatment units became integral to academic research, serving as the foundation for master's and doctoral theses, which can be accessed through LUT University.
In Turkiye, DEIK (Foreign Economic Relations Board) serves as the counterpart to Business Finland, embodying the spirit of Business Diplomacy. Over the past eight years, I have served as Vice Chairperson of Türkiye-Finland Business Council, and as of February 2024, I have been elected Chairperson. Armed with nearly a decade of experience and a robust network within the Finnish business landscape, my mission is clear: to enhance collaboration and trade between our two nations.
"Why Finland?" is a question I'm often asked, and my response is unequivocal. The world is evolving at a rapid pace, demanding that we step out of our comfort zones to survive. Finland and Türkiye possess unique strengths that can navigate this change and surmount the challenges ahead. Finnish design, simplicity, R&D prowess, and technological potential, when combined with Turkish high-quality, low-cost manufacturing, pave the way for a seamless transition into the future. Together, Finland and Türkiye form a powerhouse of innovation and collaboration. Let's unite strengths and forge a path of growth and progress!"
- Evren Dönmez