Sailing new seas: The future of BDP Turkey

Editor’s note: There have been some great accomplishments from our team in Turkey this year, notably the AEO certification, the 7 year anniversary, and BDP’s growth. Now, our GSS Vice President, Gerry Fama, will give his unique perspective on the atmosphere, culture, and driving forces behind our team’s projected success in the region.
 

Every time I go back to Turkey, the words of the great Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet come to my mind: “The most beautiful sea hasn’t been crossed yet… The most beautiful days we haven’t seen yet. And the most beautiful words I wanted to tell you I haven’t said yet…” 

Venturing to this country, centered directly between Europe & Asia, is always a new challenge for me. The life of a salesperson can present many challenges, and here in Turkey, it is no different. As with any industry, the competition is fierce, and multiple opportunities for new business requires multiple meetings with potential customers, often in the same day.

Though many seem to think the Turkish market is only aimed at "hit and run" requests, or “ad-hoc” services - this is incorrect. I’ve seen first hand the demand for long-term partnerships.

In one meeting, a large Turkish multinational company sought out BDP to help them to improve efficiency and cost savings with 4PL support. In another meeting with a large construction firm, whose underlying mission is to drive sustainability and partnering with companies who are committed to responsible practices, BDP’s strong ethics program and compliance expertise were differentiators.

As I close out a long day of meetings, I reflect on how much the poet's words adhere to our logistics culture and to our daily teamwork: together we will sail new seas, together we will see new places, and together we will tell the most beautiful words to remind us that this is our family, One BDP!