Page 26 - Turkinsurance Digital Magazine

24 at a glance

Allianz Turkey invests 30 million TL in “Allianz Teknik”

Allianz Technical Earthquake and Fire Testing and Train-
ing Center, Allianz Turkey’s establishment inside the campus
of Turkish-German University in Beykoz, began its activities
with an opening ceremony held on 15 October 2019. The cer-
emony was hosted by Tolga Gürkan, Chief Executive Officer
of Allianz Turkey; and was also attended by Sergio Balbinot,
Member of the Board at Allianz Group; Cansen Başaran-
Symes, Chairwoman of Allianz Sigorta and Allianz Hayat ve
Emeklilik; Arif Aytekin, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at
Allianz Turkey; and Prof. Dr. Halil Akkanat, President of
Turkish-German University.

“Taking precautions is possible by increasing social
risk awareness”

a serious potential to increase the share of insurance sector
Chief Executive Officer Tolga Gürkan said that they aimed in economy and to raise insurance awareness; and is therefore
to make a contribution to increase risk awareness in society listed among the top rows of our long-term investment list. 1
through Allianz Technical Earthquake and Fire Testing and billion EUR that we have invested in Turkey since 2008 is the
Training Center. He added that they have broken yet anoth- most significant proof of our belief and permanency in this
er new ground in Turkish insurance market as the leader of country,” he said; and emphasized that Allianz Teknik is an
new-generation insurance in Turkey: “According to AFAD, exemplary project for the world. “When Allianz Turkey team
earthquake is the highest-risk natural disaster in Turkey with proposed Allianz Group to establish such a center with the
a risk score of 9.3. However, 7 out of every 10 people in our aim of raising social risk awareness against fire and earth-
country believe that their homes are safe even if they have quake risks, we accepted the idea excitedly. In addition to be-
not got it examined. According to Allianz’s ‘Risk Barometer’, ing the third testing center of Allianz Group, Allianz Teknik
which is a global research on the risks facing the business is our first testing center outside Germany. We hold up Al-
world, fire is also among top 10 risks in our country. Ex- lianz Turkey as an example for all the countries we operate
treme fires we experienced last year and recent earthquake in with its ability to pioneer its market in innovation, tech-
in 27 September with a magnitude of 5.8 remind us all that nology-oriented new-generation insurance applications, and
we still have a long way to go in reaching risk awareness. The sustainability, in addition to their successful financial results
most important step against these serious risks faced by our and agile approach in conducting business,” Balbinot added.
country is to take precautions before the risks becomes a re-
ality. The way to achieve this is through increasing individual “We aim to contribute the cooperation between Turkey
and corporate awareness. That’s where we based our dream
on as Allianz Turkey. We aim to make a contribution to in- and Germany”
crease social risk awareness about fire and earthquake risks
faced by our country.” “As stated in our establishment treaty, we pursue the goal
of combining the best achievements of Turkish and German
“Allianz Teknik, which was established with an investment of university traditions in research and teaching fields.
30 million TL, is the first facility in Turkey that is compatible
with international accreditation standards and combines fire Prof. Dr. Halil Akkanat, President of the Turkish-German
and earthquake tests of this magnitude under a single roof. University, It is focused on developing a distinctive profile
We regard this center as a significant step towards increas- within the Turkish university landscape through close part-
ing social risk awareness in Turkey where we will carry out nership cooperation with a consortium of German universities
awareness-raising activities against fires and earthquakes,” and through intensive cooperation with Turkish and German
he said. companies and institutions. We aim to make significant con-
tribution to scientific, economic and cultural cooperation be-
“We hold up Allianz Turkey as an example for all the tween two countries. Our cooperation with Allianz Turkey on
countries we operate in” the occasion of this testing and training center we are open-
ing today, is the most important indicator of the fact that we
are moving forward in light of those targets. We regard this
Sergio Balbinot, Member of the Board at Allianz Group, center also as one of the major examples of university-indus-
stated that Allianz Turkey had a strategic importance among try partnership. Our biggest wish is to spread this cooperation
other geographies where Allianz is operational. “Turkey has
between these two institutions to all fields.”