ISTANBUL
The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
The majority of Wednesday’s newspapers dedicated their front pages to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s remarks on Turkey’s independent defense production plus news that the country’s largest internet food delivery firm, Yemeksepeti, is to be purchased by German giant Delivery Hero in a deal worth millions.
STAR ran the headline: “The target is 100 percent national defense,” referring to Erdogan’s remarks.
"Our plan is to completely eliminate external dependency on defense equipment supply with ongoing projects and investments until 2023. Our next target in the defense industry will be unique design,” Erdogan said on Tuesday.
He was speaking at the 12th International Defense Industry Fair in Istanbul.
AKSAM’s headline read: “National pride,” referring to Turkish automotive company BMC which introduced five new armored cars at the fair. The event is expected to bring together more than 400 companies from 32 countries.
Ankara spent over $1 billion on defense, research and development in 2014.
YENISAFAK wrote: “National aircraft carrier was introduced,” reporting that Erdogan viewed the prototype of Turkey’s first such vessel, which will be able to remain at sea for 50 days without logistical support.
The sale of Turkey's largest Internet food delivery company, Yemeksepeti, was another news item which many newspapers focused on.
Berlin-based online food multinational Delivery Hero agreed on Tuesday to buy Yemeksepeti in a deal valued at $589 million.
HABERTURK covered the story saying: “Afiyet olsun” [Enjoy your meal]. The daily described the sale as a “$589 million success in 15 years.”
In the same story, VATAN referred to the company's owner, saying: “(He) launched it for $150,000; sold it $589 million.”
Yemeksepeti was launched 15 years ago and became market leader in Turkey, processing over three million orders each month and growing at 60 percent each year. After the deal, Yemeksepeti will continue to be run by CEO and cofounder Nevzat Aydin who joins Delivery Hero as a senior advisor.
Tuesday also saw the news that Ak Gida, one of the largest food producers in Turkey, was to be sold to French food producer Lactalis – a multi-national dairy products corporation – for an undisclosed amount.
On its front page, DUNYA wrote: “Yemeksepeti and Ak Gida sold to foreign giants.” The daily described them as “two big sales.”
Ak Gida is ranked as the 33rd largest industrial corporation among Turkey’s biggest 500 companies according to the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, with revenue of 1.87 billion Turkish liras ($700 million) last year.
