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Assembly Hall Has Been Named After Mr. Fazıl Zobu, The Departed Who Significantly Contributed to ICI

22.05.2019
News

May Ordinary Assembly meeting of Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ICI) was realized on 22 May 2019 in Odakule. The Assembly Meeting chaired by Zeynep Bodur Okyay, the ICI Assembly Chairperson was realized as the commemoration event for Fazıl Zobu, the departed business person who significantly contributed to Turkish industry and ICI. The Assembly Hall was named after Fazıl Zobu, the old Chairperson of ICI Assembly and Board of Directors because of his significant contributions in gaining Odakule for the Chamber at the meeting. Ahu Zobu, the daughter of Fazıl Zobu participated in the Assembly meeting and was granted with plaque given by Zeynep Bodur Okyay, the ICI Assembly Chairperson and Erdal Bahçıvan, the ICI Board of Directors Chairperson.

A short ceremony was held before the Assembly meeting because the name of the Assembly Hall was changed into ICI Fazıl Zobu Assembly Hall. Bahçıvan, the ICI Chairperson who made a speech at the ceremony said that:

“We will hold a ceremony which is of great importance today. We witness this moment to realize something very new to us. We will realize a sample of attaching importance to the past and sample of the respect and fidelity for the past. We have taken a decision on behalf of our elders who cared Turkish industry very much to give permanent life to the memory of one of our chairpersons who pioneered various meaningful services and led for us. We will eternize the name of Fazıl Zobu, our precious elder who contributed to Odakule from its land and project phase to the construction phase which was the vision project of Türkiye in that day’s circumstances and entrusted it for us by giving his name to this hall. Our assembly is a school for us. A school which will grant students to the future’s industrialists and productive generations. We will eternize this memorial with the name of Zobu, the departed. May the God’s mercy and grace be upon Fazıl Zobu and our all elder industrialists; we are very glad to have them and to be granted with ICI by them.”

Zeynep Bodur Okyay, ICI Assembly Chairperson made a speech in the ceremony held before the meeting. Okyay said that:

“Today particularly is of great importance for me. İbrahim Bodur, my father was elected as the ICI Assembly Chairperson after Fazıl Zobu. I grew up by hearing the name of Fazıl Zobu. When the establishment story of the Chamber was brought to the agenda, his name was mentioned frequently. Our Chamber is like a family and our childhood was spent in this Chamber. I hope, this family nature will be permanent. Sole thing which survived in the life is the memories and the services of such people. I think fidelity is of vital importance. And Fazıl Zobu was a loyal person. I am very glad that our Chamber was named after Fazıl Zobu. I hope we will realize effective and beneficial works so that leave a mark behind.”

Following the ceremony held, ICI May Ordinary Assembly meeting was carried out. Assembly meeting was opened by Zeynep Bodur Okyay, ICI Assembly Chairperson. Okyay talked about Assembly agenda briefly as follows:

“Why we are together here is very meaningful and precious. We name our Assembly Hall which we are very proud to be a member after Fazıl Zobu who permanently contributed to the development of our Chamber for 26 years since 1959 and carried out the chairperson duty between 1963 and 1970. This building was established on the land which was granted by Fazıl Zobu and his friends to our Chamber. Odakule is very special place which has witnessed the trade life of İstanbul. Numerous valuable meetings have been held here with our guests and industrialist doyens. We have realized meetings which have directed the agenda with courage and by expressing what we have thought as true and right. We all know that how much Fazıl Zobu is principled and committed himself to the industry. Various brand works like ICI 500 was first launched at the period of Mr. Zobu and developed by the following managements. It is a great proud to refer this hall as ICI Fazıl Zobu Assembly Hall.”

Then, Okyay invited Erdal Bahçıvan, ICI Board of Directors Chairperson to the rostrum to make his speech about the main agenda item. Bahçıvan said that Odakule Assembly Hall which they always considered as a school has embraced a new identity which is very meaningful for them today. Bahçıvan expressed that they named the Assembly Hall after Fazıl Zobu with the aim of eternalizing the name of Fazıl Zobu, one of the old Chairpersons of Assembly and Board of Directors and reminding and transmitting the vision and approach to attach value to the life of all elders by symbolizing him for the youth.

Stating that the meetings carried out in Istanbul Chamber of Industry’s Assembly Hall have always been significant, colorful and interesting for the public opinion, Bahçıvan expressed that it is of great proud for them to name Odakule Assembly Hall after Fazıl Zobu who significantly contributed to ICI.

Emphasizing that Fazıl Zobu was a very precious elder who made unforgettable contributions during the realization of Odakule building for the industrialists, Bahçıvan said that: “It is very meaningful and precious to commemorate Mr. Fazıl Zobu, who is an unforgettable industrialist in monthly assembly meeting with Ahu Zobu, his dear daughter and Mr. Murtaza Çelikel and Mr. Orhan Demirtaş, his close colleagues with whom he worked during his duty in this Ramadan which has a deep custom.”

Drawing attention to the fact that Istanbul Chamber of Industry is a pioneer institution of which brand value is significantly high which has contributed to the industry and development of our country since 1952 when it was established, Bahçıvan expressed that there are various precious business people who have made ICI the pioneer institution of our country. Expressing that they have witnessed one of the great number of sample collective works taken place in the history of Istanbul Chamber of Industry with great proud when they have looked at the Odakule building, Bahçıvan drew attention that Odakule building which was opened to service in 1976 thanks to the great efforts of Industrialist elders, especially that of Fazıl Zobu, the departed is one of the symbol buildings of Istanbul with its architecture.

Bahçıvan reminded that Odakule, one of the first skyscrapers to touch upon the sky in Istanbul has undergone a major and through and through renovation process started in 2016 and in the light of an environmentalist and smart equipment to meet the today’s needs. Bahçıvan told that they started to provide service with their all departments in Odakule building at the 65th year of Istanbul Chamber of Industry at 2017 which was full of proud and achievements by moving from historical building to this building upon the completion of this renewal process. Bahçıvan continued:

“It was impossible to not remember Fazıl Zobu, our precious elder while realizing this. Even his friends agreed on the idea that Fazıl Zobu was a distinguished and unprecedented person who cannot be forgotten in time. Fazıl Zobu taught us about the long-lasting success and advised us to attach importance to the permanent and sustainable success instead of temporary victories like a flash in the pan in today’s world.”

Underlying that they didn’t focus on only the concrete and iron while renewing Odakule, Bahçıvan said that building means memory and transformations bring the danger of eliminating the memories and marks. He mentioned that while launching the transformation process against such danger, they realized a book and documentary work simultaneously by which the industry history, their memories and production culture which are of great importance will be transmitted to the young generation.

Bahçıvan provided the information that they have renewed the historical gateway which ensures the pedestrian connection for thousands of people in each day between Istiklal Avenue and Meşrutiyet Avenue where Odakule is located in line with Beyoğlu Melodisi and the contemporary urban life conditions as the result of an architectural contest which they organized. Baçıvan stated that the industry will come together with art and design through this gateway project which points out to the importance of industry-based production culture and local production which includes the suggestions supporting the long-standing past and corporate identity of ICI with an original perspective.

Ahu Zobu, the daughter of Fazıl Zobu was granted with a plaque at the meeting. Extending her gratitudes for the industrialists at the rostrum, Zobu said that: “You are the generals of the industry army of Türkiye. You will realize significant works for the future of Türkiye. Thank you all for remembering my father.”

Doyen Industrialists who served as Assembly Members at the same period with Fazıl Zobu shared their feelings at the rostrum. Murtaza Çelikel stated that: “I would like to express the importance of the chair on which you are sitting and our community. Our assembly is distinctive and creative Assembly. Fazıl Zobu was an exclusive person. He was an unprecedented industrialist thanks to his cultured perspective, elegance, approach, professional discipline and practicality. Naming this place after him is a matter of honor. You will carry this for a whole lifetime.”

Orhan Demirtaş made a speech at the rostrum for ICI Assembly Members and said that: “I met with ICI in 1952 at 4th Vakıf Han. We used to manufacture nail at Balat. The business facilities which might be considered as an atelier today were the industry facilities of that period’s Türkiye. Furthermore, nail, barb wire, digging tools and even water bucket were exported. We have 30 millions of youth people. I am hopeful for our future.”

Ayhan Kızıltan, the Chairperson of Mersin Chamber of Commerce and Industry was one of the guests of May Assembly and he made a speech at the rostrum. Kızıltan provided information regarding the Mersin’s economy and industry for the assembly members. And ICI Assembly Members took to the rostrum and shared their opinions.