In his capacity as TOBB Vice President, IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu delivered an opening speech at the event held within the scope of the Turkey-EU Business Dialogue (TEBD) Project carried out by TOBB and EUROCHAMBRES  on 10 March 2022. During the event, the findings of the survey measuring the approaches of SMEs towards Turkey's relations with the EU and the Customs Union were presented. In his opening speech, IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu introduced the project and evaluated the role played by the business community in Turkey-EU relations. Indicating that the modernisation of the Customs Union is supported by the business communities both in Turkey and the EU, Zeytinoğlu stated that Turkey-EU economic and trade relations will develop further with the initiation of this process.

Following the opening speeches by EUROCHAMBRES President Luc Frieden, Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut and Director General of Financial Cooperation and Project Implementation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Directorate General for EU Affairs Bülent Özcan, the event continued with the presentation of the report by EUROCHAMBRES CEO Ben Butters and a panel session. The speakers of the panel were President of Turkish-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dr. Markus C. Slevogt, IKV Secretary General Assoc. Prof. Çiğdem Nas, TEPAV Programme Director Prof. Güven Sak and Nele Eichhorn, Head of Unit at European Commission's Directorate General for Trade.