TKYB CEO Öztop: Our Bank's Signature is Behind 6% of Turkey's Renewable Energy Capacity

Foreks - Emphasizing that they have been working for Turkey's development for 50 years, General Manager İbrahim Öztop stated, "Since 1975, we have undertaken countless important projects aimed at contributing to sustainable development goals. Thanks to the strong relationships we have developed with international development finance institutions, we have increased our resource diversification. We continue to take decisive steps for the economic and social development of our country, building the future with our strong legacy of half a century."

Turkey Development and Investment Bank (IS:KLNMA) General Manager İbrahim Öztop, stating that they have been working for Turkey for 50 years as a public bank, said, "Since the first steps we took in 1975, we have launched numerous important projects to strengthen our economy, encourage investments, and contribute to sustainable development goals. During this process, we have gone beyond being merely a financial institution to serve as a strategic actor shaping our country’s development vision. Today, as we leave behind a rich history of half a century, we take pride in being a symbol of permanence and trust and remain determined to support every project that adds value to our country."

"Our bank's signature is on 6% of Turkey's renewable energy capacity." Öztop, stating that they support many sectors from green energy to tourism and technology for Turkey's development, emphasized, "As Turkey Development and Investment Bank, with the resources we provide, we stand by our investors in financing projects that increase exports, reduce the current account deficit, contribute to enhancing our country's production capacity, and create new employment opportunities. With the thematic funds we have secured, we contribute to investors' access to finance in many areas, particularly value-added production, climate finance, renewable energy and energy efficiency, food security, disaster resilience, emission reduction, financial inclusion, SME financing, technology, and regional development. Within the framework of the net-zero emission goals of the Paris Agreement, to which our country is a signatory, renewable energy is one of our priority areas, with 58% of the resources we have obtained dedicated to renewable energy and energy efficiency. Today, we have enabled the generation of approximately 6% of Turkey's renewable energy capacity through energy projects that constitute about half of our loan portfolio."

"56% of the resources we have obtained to date were secured in the last six years." Öztop stated that they primarily obtain their resources from international development finance institutions, "By the end of September 2024, our resource volume has reached approximately 105 billion TL, and we secured about 56% of our resources during the 2018-2024 period. We continue our efforts without interruption to increase our resource diversification and bring more medium and long-term funding sources to our country."

"93% of our loan portfolio consists of sustainability-themed loans." Öztop, stating that they view sustainability as a responsibility rather than a choice, said, "We aim to be a pioneer in green transformation in Turkey and, in this direction, contribute to our country's economic and social development journey by offering environmentally friendly financing solutions. We are one of the few banks that apply environmental and social risk assessment and monitoring processes regardless of the loan amount, term, and sector. The fact that 93% of our loan portfolio consists of sustainability-themed loans is the most concrete indicator of the importance we place on our sustainable development mission. In addition to directly and indirectly contributing to 15 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, we take pride in having reached a total of 2.8 billion USD in loans connected to these goals."

"We are one of Turkey's leading sustainable institutions." Öztop highlighted that they are recognized as one of Turkey's leading sustainable finance institutions, stating, "We are also gaining international recognition in this area, crowning our successes with consecutive awards." Continuing by providing information about their impact investing activities, Öztop remarked, "We see the financial returns of investments as well as their contributions to enhancing social welfare as one of the essential requirements for sustainable development in today's conditions. In this direction, we prioritize efforts to build a sustainable future, combating climate change, protecting natural resources and biodiversity, and supporting socio-economic development. With this vision, we are leading the development of the impact investing ecosystem in our country and taking bold steps to increase investments in this field. We want to continue our pioneering role in developing the impact investing ecosystem in our country by establishing an Impact Fund under the Turkey Development Fund (TKF)."

"Financial and Regional Inclusion is among our priority areas." Emphasizing the importance of supporting SMEs, which are the backbone of the economy, Öztop stated, "We consider the strength of SMEs as the guarantee of the economy and provide financing to SMEs directly through loans and grants we secure from international finance institutions, as well as through our wholesale banking activities with other financial institutions. Additionally, we directly or indirectly support development-oriented SMEs through our funds under the TKF umbrella. Regional development is another priority area for us. As a bank that has been tirelessly working for our country's development with a responsible banking understanding for half a century, we find it very important to support the healing, revitalization, and resilience improvement of areas affected by earthquakes. By providing financial consulting services to firms in the earthquake-affected region and offering financing support through direct loans, grant programs, and wholesale banking activities, we will continue to be a lifeline for the region."

"With our pioneering investment banking services, we contribute to the development of the sector." Öztop highlighted that they have made successful contributions through investment banking services and have pioneered many transactions, stating, "We have carried out pioneering transactions in various areas, from significant public offerings in Turkey to the issuance of sukuk and bonds. We take pride in having executed Turkey's first low-carbon transition bond and the first social sukuk issuance. We will continue to develop financing solutions that will attract direct foreign investments to our country, contribute to the depth and development of our capital markets, support our investors in accessing finance by developing different capital market products, and make a difference in the sector. We will particularly prioritize public offerings and issuance transactions, as well as privatization and mergers and acquisitions projects."

"With the Turkey Development Fund, we have made direct investments in 26 companies in five years." Öztop stated that the Turkey Development Fund, celebrating its fifth anniversary in 2024, manages approximately 125 million dollars in resources from over 140 investors in the public and private sectors through its 8 funds. "Through various sub-funds, we have made direct investments in 26 companies operating in many verticals, from manufacturing to fintech, biotechnology to cybersecurity, and mobility to sustainability, as well as committed to five venture capital funds that are pioneers in Turkey’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. To support other funds in the entrepreneurship ecosystem, we established Turkey's first fund-of-funds structure, TKYB Upper Fund, this year, with contributions from the Ministry of Treasury and Finance and our Bank, with an initial closing size of 50 million dollars. This fund is positioned at the center of the ecosystem to invest only in private equity and venture capital funds and create a significant multiplier effect with leverage. As part of our value creation culture, we see supporting high-tech producing entrepreneurs as one of our main goals to create globally scaled companies in our country."

"Our greatest strength is our human resource." Öztop stated that they take pride in being a symbol of permanence and trust with their rich legacy of half a century. "We are determined to support every project that adds value to our country. As the Turkey Development and Investment Bank family, throughout our 50-year history, our greatest strength has stemmed from our human resources, which combine deep knowledge from the past with an innovative vision for the future. Our valuable employees, who contribute to this institution with their experiences and undertake critical responsibilities in our country's development journey, are the true architects of the successes we have achieved today. Looking from today to the future, we take great pride in seeing that we walk towards larger goals with our young and dynamic professionals who closely follow global trends and the evolving technological ecosystem, possessing a visionary outlook."