TURKISH BUSINESSWOMAN GULER SABANCI AMONG WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL WOMEN
ISTANBUL - A leading economy magazine has described a Turkish businesswoman as one of the powerful women in the world.
Forbes Magazine has included Turkish Sabanci Holding's chairperson Guler Sabanci in its annual "The 100 Most Powerful Women" list, a statement from the holding said on Thursday.
Sabanci, who was ranked 75th in Forbes' list last year, rose up to 27th place in 2009 and she is the only Turkish businesswoman who could enter the list, the statement said.
"Turkey's most powerful businesswoman, Sabanci took over as board chairman of the Sabanci conglomerate in May 2004 after the death of her uncle, Chairman Sakip Sabanci," Forbes wrote about Sabanci.
"Despite the global recession, she has been busy acquiring a 15 percent stake in Air Berlin from U.S. billionaire Len Bavatnik; privatizing an electricity distribution company, a first for the country; and expanding the commercial vehicle business with a new factory in Cairo. A reformed chain smoker, Sabanci is a strong advocate of Turkey joining the European Union," the magazine added.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is at the top of this year's "Most Powerful Women" list, while U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is ranked the 36th and U.S. First Lady Michele Obama is listed the 40th.
