Toprak Holding

MESSAGE OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Now I am able to see more clearly and evidently how reasonable and accurate were the principles I had adopted while I laid foundations of Toprak Group many years ago, which is now one of the leading groups of Turkey. Highest production and service standards, insistent and non-renouncing approach for creativity, preservation of good practices, and a permanent process of development have brought us to the present day and become our guide for the future. We have gained presence in numerous fields, and expanded and diversified our products substantially..

We manufacture floor and wall tiles. We are happy, and rightfully proud of the fact that our Turkey is one of the leading countries of the world in this field. We have built up the second largest tile capacity of our country. At present, our floor and wall tiles are manufactured in total 1700 types which show a considerable versatility as to their sizes, colors and patterns. Nevertheless, it is observed that production - related problems are overwhelmed by the concepts such as sales and customer satisfaction. We always try to maintain the highest quality in production of ceramic sanitary products. Markets are currently experiencing a harsh competition. However, we have completed final preparations to fold our capacity. We shall enrich our range of ceramic products with granite products manufactured by us. We shall be able to collect fruits of our investments in this field.

We are happy to have brought natural marble reservoirs of the South-Eastern region of Anatolia into use of the domestic economy by means of a model partnership which puts natural materials in use in the sector of coating materials.

We have recently improved our experience in printing papers with glossy papers in the field of production of paper products.

Tissue papers field has become the centre of interest for many domestic and foreign entrepreneurs in parallel to the enhanced level of domestic prosperity. As Toprak Group, we shall also be pioneering many innovations in this sector. Diapers, hygienic pads, and polyester yarns are the youngest industries of our Group. Expansion investments have been put into effect prior to completion of initial investments. Harsh competition in this technology-intensive sector has raised product quality and standards considerably. This is joyous for consumers, and we are also glad to have contributed to this progress

We have left our period of crawling behind in the pharmaceuticals sector. We shall sustain our model progress as the arrogant representative of the domestic pharmaceuticals industry

Although monopolies which have exploited our society for many years by hiding in the shelters of such a closed economy are not so happy for abolishment of monopolistic barriers, these positive developments have favored our citizens and consumers in the end. This also makes me so happy.

As for other fields of operation of our group, we have been sustaining our sound development in the glass wool sector. In spite of the difficulties encountered in the iron casting sector, sound relationships are being established in connection with production of cast iron radiators and bathtubs as well as automotive parts. Acrylic bathtubs, i.e. one of our new products, and our other acrylic products have attained the place they deserve at the market. These products are currently in the course of development and improvement as per preferences of Turkish consumers.

All these positive progresses are attributable solely to efforts and self-sacrifice of our employees as well as in-depth knowledge and experience of our directors who are committed to their jobs, and deemed as an authority in their respective fields of expertise. During recent years, we have enriched our activities and operations in the sectors of industry, trade, and service with the social investments such as schools, hospitals, nurseries, rest homes as well as with scholarships and donations granted to students of primary and secondary schools. We derive a childish pleasure from these developments.

I extend my sincere gratitude to everyone, our workers, employees, directors, distributors who have helped us in achieving our current position, and our respectable customers who have provided us with the strength to survive under any condition so far.

Yours Respectfully,
Halis Toprak
Toprak Holding Co. Inc.
Chairman of the Board of Directors