The establishment of the Union of Turkic World Marketing, Advertising, and Media (TÜREK) was formalized through a signing ceremony initiated by Türkiye and Azerbaijan and operated under the auspices of the Turkish Ministry of Trade.

The union was founded by the Advertising and Marketing Communication Association (REPİD) and the Outdoor and Industrial Advertisers Association (ARED) from Türkiye and the Public Union for Supporting the Development of Advertising and Marketing (RMID) from Azerbaijan. The signing ceremony was held at the Ministry of Trade, and the union was introduced to the public.

Speaking at the ceremony, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat emphasized that the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), which aims to enhance cooperation between member states, has evolved into a strategic partnership across sectors such as economy, energy, industry, agriculture, tourism, and technology — not merely a platform for cultural solidarity.

Bolat highlighted that the total GDP of OTS member countries has reached $1.8 trillion, with a combined population of 175 million and foreign trade volume totaling $1.2 trillion. He noted that in the past year, Türkiye’s exports to OTS countries amounted to $15.7 billion, while imports from those countries stood at approximately $15.3 billion.

Mutual investments between Türkiye and OTS countries have reached $8 billion on each side, and this figure doubles when including indirect investments through third countries. Bolat added that Turkish contractors have undertaken over 3,000 projects in these countries, amounting to a total value of $120 billion.

— “Türkiye to Serve as Spokesperson for the First Two Years”

Bolat underlined that TÜREK will foster significant cooperation in advertising. The union's headquarters will be based in Istanbul, and Türkiye will assume its spokesperson role for the first two years. In subsequent years, Azerbaijan will take over, followed by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.

— “Advertising Market of the Turkic World Reaches €7 Billion”

Sharing data on the advertising markets of Turkic countries, Bolat stated that as of 2023, Azerbaijan had an annual advertising budget of €104 million, Uzbekistan €136 million, Kazakhstan €631 million, Kyrgyzstan €52 million, and Turkmenistan €112 million. Türkiye's advertising market was valued at €6 billion, bringing the total advertising market of the Turkic world to €7 billion.

Bolat noted that global advertising investments in 2023 reached $900 billion, while Türkiye’s advertising investments grew by 80% compared to the previous year, reaching 250 billion lira. He pointed out that Türkiye ranks among the top 20 countries in global advertising investments, with 70% of the investments allocated to digital advertising.

He stressed the importance of protecting consumers against commercial practices such as targeted advertising, greenwashing, dark patterns, and social media marketing, especially in the influencer marketing sector, which is now valued at over 3 billion lira. He noted that the newly established “Media Measurement Council” ensures accurate data collection for the sector.

He said the Advertising Board regularly conducts audits and prepares guidelines, particularly for advertisements involving pricing, discounted sales, and environmental claims.

— “TÜREK Was a Necessity”

Bolat emphasized the necessity of establishing TÜREK:
"With its establishment, joint media production, cultural branding in advertising, regional promotion, public diplomacy, and collaborative efforts in digital transformation will be made possible. This union will be a prime example of regional cooperation and collective effort in global competition."

He continued:
"Through TÜREK, we aim to support economic growth, develop media and advertising projects, enable accurate and rapid information exchange, and contribute to raising awareness within our societies."
"To achieve this, the Turkic world will utilize tools such as joint broadcasts, content exchanges, series and documentary productions, joint advertising production centers, cultural campaign collaborations, and regional brand support through Turkic brand funds, along with the development of common algorithms, language models, and data solutions via AI and media laboratories."

— The Crane as the Symbol of the Union

Ahmet Pura, President of REPİD and TÜREK, stated that the union represents not only an institutional initiative but also a shared vision, responsibility, and future:
"Our symbol, the crane, is more than a visual motif — it reflects our direction, perspective, and determination to act together. In ancient Turkic culture, the crane symbolizes journey, communication, loyalty, and collective navigation. It moves not alone, but with the group. We are building this union with that very understanding."

ARED President Şahin Acar noted that Azerbaijan and Türkiye took the first step in forming the union:
Today, the TRNC has joined us. We will not stop. We aim to unite under this umbrella from Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan, from Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan, and with all other Turkic communities."

RMID President Khayala Mutallimova emphasized that, over the past two years, Azerbaijan has gained significant visibility on national and international platforms through successful projects.

 

AA