A panel discussing effective collaboration between the insurance sector and the business community was held in Afyonkarahisar, featuring notable participants such as Maher Holding Insurance Group President Ahmet Yaşar, Afyonkarahisar Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Hüsnü Serteser, and Afyonkarahisar Deputy Mayor Cem Kasapoğlu, among others. The event attracted representatives from numerous non-governmental organizations and insurance agencies.
In his address, Ahmet Yaşar emphasized the critical role of insurance, particularly in times of crisis, stating, “When things go wrong, insurance should be more valuable. Rather than avoiding insurance premiums, we should view them as a means to save.” He highlighted that Turkey is currently ranked 35th in the global insurance market, despite its 18th to 20th position in the global economy, and stressed the need for improvement in this sector. Yaşar pointed to the financial damage from recent earthquakes, estimating losses at $103 billion, of which only $5 billion was covered by insurance, underscoring the insufficient utilization of insurance instruments in the country.
ATSO President Hüsnü Serteser echoed these concerns, pointing out that the insurance sector provides essential risk-sharing and security for entrepreneurs and businesses. Yet, he noted a lack of adoption of insurance tools among businesses, referencing a TOBB survey in 2023 indicating that 51% of industrial establishments had not renewed their insurance policies.
The panel, moderated by ATSO Member Bekir Özerdem, lasted over three hours and featured discussions with other industry leaders, including Quick Finance Deputy General Manager Oğuz Korkmaz and Maher Holding Integrated Marketing Coordinator Gökhan Genç. Local business leaders and representatives from various trade organizations participated, reflecting broad interest in enhancing insurance engagement.
Prior to the panel, Yaşar and his team met with Afyonkarahisar Mayor Burcu Köksal to discuss urban transformation and the impact of new regulatory frameworks, such as the Building Completion Insurance launched on June 13, which aims to facilitate urban development.
The panel highlighted the significant potential of the insurance sector in Afyonkarahisar, with calls for collaborative efforts to fully leverage this potential for regional development.
