TURKISH BUSINESSWOMAN AWARDED WITH FRENCH STATE AWARD

Turkish Sabanci Holding's chairperson Guler Sabanci was presented with the "Officier's insignia" of the French Republic's highest award Legion d'Honneur during a ceremony held at Sakip Sabanci Museum in Istanbul on Tuesday.
Presenting the award to Sabanci, French ambassador Bernard Emie read the message of French Minister of Economy, Industry & Employment Christine Lagarde who could not attend the ceremony.
Describing Sabanci as an active, modern and sophisticated woman acting as a role model for all the women in Turkey, minister Lagarde said in her message that the French president had decided to award the businesswoman with such an order thanks to her lifestyle setting an example for others.
Pointing to the successful projects carried out by Sabanci, Lagarde said the partrnership between Sabanci Holding and Carrefour was a great success story, moreover, the holding had several other fruitful investments in France.
Lagarde noted that Sabanci's interest in higher education and culture, which were two areas France was deeply committed to, also contributed remarkably to Turkey.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sabanci said that she was honored to get such an award from France.
"I am well aware that my responsibility grows with such an honor. We all know that our countries, which have the opportunity to actualize great things together, have certain problems concerning the EU issue. During such a period, I know I am taking the responsibility to contribute to relations," Sabanci said.
Created in l802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, Legion d'Honneur is the highest award given by the French Republic for outstanding service to France, regardless of the social status or the nationality of the recipients.
Guler Sabanci received state awards from Italy, Belgium, Spain, and Austria in the past.
Guler Sabanci, born in 1955, is a third-generation female member of the renowned Sabanci family, and currently the chairperson of the family-controlled Sabanci Holding, the leading industrial and financial conglomerate of Turkey.
In 2004, following the death of her uncle Sakip Sabanci, who had led Sabanci Holding since its foundation in 1967, Guler Sabanci was appointed as the chairperson of the holding.
The same year, The Wall Street Journal selected her, the new boss of the US$25 billion business, as one of its "30 Most Powerful Women of Europe". In 2007, she was selected to be one of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women by the Forbes magazine. In 2009, the Financial Times listed Guler Sabanci 5th among the "Top 50 Women" in World Business. Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.