Dr. Şahap
Kocatopçu - Dean
of the Marmara
Group Strategic
and Social
Research
Foundation and
Former Minister
of Industry and
Technology
reached his 90.
Dr. Kocatopçu
born in Istanbul
on 17 February
1916. From his
birth to today
he always
followed the
principle of
Tevfik Fikret:
“There is no me
or you but we”.
Şahap Kocatopçu
was saying that
“the development
in education,
industry, trade
and all areas is
hidden behind
this principle”.
All his life as
a Minister or
Chairman of the
Industrialists’
and
Businessmen’s
Association or
as a founder of
Turkey Bottle
and Glass
Factories he
followed this
principle.
He reached his
90 and he still
keeps on doing
his best to
serve his
country. He has
been an
important symbol
for his country
and people. He
is an
inspiration for
much of us
today.
Last week the
meeting
organized by
Marmara
Foundation
gathered people
who think like
Şahap Kocatopçu.
More than 100
distinguished
guests attended
the meeting.
Meeting started
with an
audiovisual show
explaining the
successful life
of Dr.
Kocatopçu.
After the
audiovisual show
Dr. Akkan Suver
President of the
Marmara
Foundation took
the first word
and said that:
“Dr Şahap
Kocatopçu is an
important symbol
for Turkey. He
is a living
monument. He
inspired us with
his service to
Turkey and has
been a model for
us. As a person
who still makes
an effort we
admire his
personality”
Ms. Alev Yaraman
- Executive Vice
President and
Chief Executive
Flat Glass of
Şişecam Turkey
said that Dr.
Şahap Kocatopçu
is a gift from
the great leader
of Turkey
Atatürk. Sha
added that: “Mr.
Kocatopçu was
one of the
distinguished
young people who
were sent to
foreign
countries for
the preparation
of the
industrialization
process of
Turkey.
As the Founder
of Şişecam Glass
Factories of
Turkey he put
his signature
under the very
important works
and services.
While Turkey was
a stranger for
exporting its
own products to
foreign
countries he
managed to
realize great
amount of
export. This was
an important
step for the
industrialization
process of
Turkey”
Mr. Rona Yırcalı
- Chairman of
Board of the
Turkish
Education
Foundation
stated that:
“Dr. Şahap
Kocatopçu spent
important
efforts for the
development of
Turkey in every
ares. But he did
so much and so
important works
for education,
which is the
base of
development”
After Rona
Yırcalı Dr.
Şahap Kocatopçu
took the word
and made an
emotional
speech: “All
these good words
brought me to
old days. The
days of Istanbul
under foreign
military
occupation, the
days of our
fight for our
independence,
declaration of
the new Turkish
Republic, to the
new reform
process and the
years of the
Second World
War. When I look
back from today
I can see that
we went forward.
The key of our
development from
these days is to
work. To work
without getting
tired and stop”
Finally, 9th
President of
Turkey Süleyman
Demirel made a
speech and said
that; “Dr. Şahap
Kocatopçu is
still doing his
best to serve
for this country
and for his
people. To work
without stopping
has an important
role in reaching
the 90th
birthday in good
health.
He is a very
important person
in the
industrialization
process of our
country. I
congratulate his
new age and wish
for him to
celebrate his
100”
Some of the
other attendees
of the birthday
meeting was;
Bülent
Eczacıbaşı –
Chairman of
Board of
Eczacıbaşı, Aldo
Kazlowski -
Vice-President
of Turkish
Industrialists’
and
Businessmen’s
Association,
Former Commander
of Turkish Land
Forces (Ret.)
Full General
Atilla Ateş,
Barlas Doğu -
Former Minister
of Defense,
Prof. Dr. Ahmet
Samsunlu –
Former Minister
for Housing,
City Planning,
Resettlement and
the Environment,
(Ret.) Full
General Necdet
Timur Former
Commander of the
First Army,
Prof. Dr. Tunç
Erem –
Chancellor of
the Marmara
University,
Former
Commanders of
Turkish General
Staff (Ret.)
Full General
İsmail Hakkı
Karadayı and
(Ret.) Full
General Hüseyin
Kıvrıkoğlu,
Tanıl Küçük -
President of the
Istanbul Chamber
of Industry,
Mustafa Sarıgül
- Mayor of
Şişli,
academicians;
Prof. Dr. Gül
Turan, Prof. Dr.
İlter Turan,
Prof. Dr. Nedret
Kuran Burçoğlu,
Prof. Dr.
Sedefhan Oğuz,
journalists;
Tufan and Pınar
Türenç, Gül
Demir, Oral
Çalışlar, Hulusi
Turgut and
Businessmen;
Yılmaz Soycan,
faith Saraçoğlu,
Zühdi Hacıoğlu.
A Living Monument Dr. Şahap
Kocatopçu: On His 90
