TRT director-general elected president of Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union

ISTANBUL

Mehmet Zahid Sobaci, the director general of Turkish public broadcaster TRT, on Wednesday elected as president of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) during its 60th General Assembly.

"My election as the president of ABU is significant for Türkiye’s goal of becoming a leading country in all fields," Sobaci said, adding that the ABU presidency is especially gratifying as it coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Republic.

The 60th General Assembly of the ABU, the world's largest broadcasting union comprising 246 members from 65 countries and reaching an estimated audience of nearly 3.5 billion viewers, took place in Seoul, the capital of South Korea.

The event, organized by the Korean Broadcasting Corporation (KBS), was held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1.

"Türkiye must continue its rise and strengthen its position as a leading nation. The century of Türkiye encompasses various fields, including domestic politics, foreign policy, energy, environment, economy, industry, education and technology,” Sobaci said.

“This period signifies Türkiye’s ambitious goals, and its determination to achieve them. Therefore, we can consider the ABU presidency as a step and contribution towards achieving the objectives Türkiye has set in the international media arena."

During Sobaci's tenure as ABU president, TRT will host the 61st ABU general assembly meeting in Istanbul in October 2024.