Delivering successful projects with Japanese companies in Turkey, Central Asia and the Middle East for 25 years, businessman Ahmet Çalık was awarded the degree of Honorary Doctorate. Prof. Dr. Yagasaki Tadashi, Rector of Matsumoto Dental University, presented to Ahmet Çalık his Honorary Doctorate Certificate. Mr. Çalık said, "I have been working with Japanese People for 25 years. We were one of the first companies to conduct business with Japan in Central Asia. It means a lot to me that this award was granted by a Japanese university."
Ahmet Çalık, Chairman of Çalık Holding, was granted one of the most meaningful awards in his business life. An award ceremony was held in Japan for the Honorary Doctorate degree granted to the businessman Ahmet Çalık by the Matsumoto Dental University. The ceremony was attended by İjima İsao; Adviser to the Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, Shigeyuki Gotoh; Japanese Parliamentary Member, Bülent Meriç; Tokyo Ambassador of Turkey, and the famous Japanese fashion designer Kanzai Yamamoto as well as many representatives from the Japanese bureaucracy, and academicians.
"Established a Successful Business Model with Japanese"
İjima İsao, Adviser to the Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, delivered a speech prior to the presentation of the Honorary Doctorate award and expressed that Turkey and Japan share strong bonds of friendship, indicating that the businessman Ahmet Çalık contributed significantly to the development of this relationship. İsao stated that Japanese firms, together with Çalık Group, delivered successful business models in tough geographies including Central Asia and the Middle East, thanks to the praiseworthy, bold initiatives of Ahmet Çalık. "Ahmet Çalık has played a key entrepreneurship role in the development, modernization, and externalization of these geographies; enabling Japanese companies to operate in these regions effortlessly. Turkish and Japanese companies have demonstrated through joint efforts how successful their business models are."
"We were Amazed by the Entrepreneurial Spirit of Ahmet Çalık"
Yagasaki Tadashi, President of the Japanese Matsumoto Dental University, emphasized how they were amazed by the entrepreneurial spirit of Ahmet Çalık, Chairman of Çalık Holding, and highlighted this attribute of him as the reason for their unanimous decision to grant the "Honorary Doctorate" award as the University Board of Governors. Bülent Meriç, Tokyo Ambassador of Turkey, also spoke at the ceremony and expressed their contentment as Ahmet Çalık, a Turkish businessman, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree in Japan.
"We Have Been Working With Japanese Companies For 25 Years"
Ahmet Çalık gave a speech after wearing his Honorary Doctorate gown, expressing his pride for the degree. "I have been doing business with Japanese companies for 25 years. Especially in Central Asia, we became one of the first organizations to deliver successful projects with Japanese companies. What I have witnessed is that Japanese people remain true to their words. They keep their promises, they never cheat, never lie, and they are very hardworking. We saw how powerful Japanese are in terms of working discipline, knowledge, and technological equipment diversity, as well as their commitment to project quality and meeting deadlines. In this sense, Japanese partners have a prominent place in my business life. Thus, I am particularly glad that this Honorary Doctorate degree was granted to me by a Japanese university. I would like to express my gratitude to the university administration."
"Let's Join the East and the West"
Ahmet Çalık reminded that the Turkish and Japanese people, from the eastern and western ends of the historical Silk Road, have always shared strong bonds of friendship and rapport. "The leaders of two countries have agreed on a strategic partnership target by reflecting this long-established friendship onto the economy through recent exchange of visits one after another. This powerful will has been utilized to increase business volumes and create a mutual synergy in all aspects across third countries as well as to exploit business opportunities through collaboration. Today I would like to accept this honorary doctorate title granted to me as a recognition of the strong partnership between Turkey and Japan. We as Turkey are located at the most western part of Asia. And you as Japan are on the most eastern part of Asia. The crescent on our flag represents the night while the sun on your flag represents the day. So, let's unite and join the east and the west to live the night and day together."
