Historic Celebration for the 102nd Year

The Izmir Chamber of Commerce (IZTO) and Izmir University of Economics (IUE) celebrated the 102nd anniversary of the Republic by raising the Turkish flag on a newly installed 47-meter flagpole at the Güzelbahçe campus, which is currently under construction. The ceremony, which was marked by great enthusiasm, excitement, and high attendance, also featured the unveiling of a pedestal with the inscription: ‘This flag, raised for the first time on October 29, 2025, is the signature of Izmir University of Economics’ rising future.’ Speaking at the ceremony, Mahmut Özgener, Chairman of the IZTO Executive Board and President of the IUE Board of Trustees, said, “It is the responsibility of all of us to protect our Republic and keep it alive forever. We must tirelessly tell our children and younger generations about the gains we achieved thanks to the Republic and the price we paid for it.”

The IUE Güzelbahçe Campus, which is set to be one of our country's most important educational hubs and is scheduled to complete its first phase in July 2026, hosted a meaningful ceremony celebrating the 102nd anniversary of the Republic. During this special ceremony, attended by IZTO assembly members, IZTO Education and Health Foundation board of trustees members, and IUE board of trustees members, the glorious Turkish flag was raised to the accompaniment of the Turkish National Anthem.

Attendees included: Mahmut Özgener, Chairman of the IZTO Executive Board and President of the IUE Board of Trustees, Prof. Dr. Yusuf Hakan Abacıoğlu, IUE Rector, Prof. Dr. Murat Aşkar (Former Rector), Selami Özpoyraz, IZTO Assembly President, Cemal Elmasoğlu and Emre Kızılgüneşler, IZTO Vice Chairmen of the Board, as well as IZTO board and assembly members and other guests.

“KEEPING IT ALIVE FOREVER IS OUR PRIORITY”

In his speech, Chairman Mahmut Özgener described the Republic as the name of a rebirth on these lands, an optimism forged with hope, and he said, “On October 29, 1923, our Great Leader Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and his comrades-in-arms declared not just a form of government, but a philosophy of life, a goal of modernization, and most importantly, a future based on the will of the nation. The Republic is the name of a rebirth on these lands, an optimism forged with hope. It is the foundation of a Turkey where women participate in society as equal citizens and where youth shape the future with their ideas. It is the responsibility of all of us to protect our Republic, the form of government that best suits the Turkish people, and to keep it alive forever. We must tirelessly tell our children and younger generations about the gains we achieved thanks to the Republic and the price we paid for it.”

“A STRONG SIGNATURE FOR THE FUTURE”

Chairman Özgener continued as follows: “Our Great Leader Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Ataturk clearly showed the importance he placed on education with his words, ‘No matter how brilliant victories a nation achieves on the battlefield, those victories can only yield lasting results with an army of intellect.’ Our ceremony today is a strong signature for the future, made by our University, which follows the path shown by our Ancestor and aims to raise the qualified young people our country needs. We are fortunate that we are building a perpetually free, strong, and hopeful future under this flag. The most important feature that distinguishes our campus from any other building is that it is an educational home equipped with valuable principles. The bricks we lay here can only gain meaning with the principled education we will provide to the youth. Our fundamental priority is to convey the unique struggles waged for the independence and freedom of this country to the youth, who are the architects of our future, and to prepare them for the future with this consciousness. We live, work, and produce freely today thanks to our heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives to protect our homeland. On this occasion, I commemorate Ataturk and all our martyrs with mercy and gratitude.”

WILL BE AN EXAMPLE FOR TURKEY

IUE Rector Prof. Dr. Yusuf Hakan Abacıoğlu stated that the Güzelbahçe campus will serve as an example for Turkey and will enable students to realize their dreams, expressing his thanks to everyone who contributed to the campus's construction.