Marketing Program Students Meet the Industry at the Producers' Meeting
The "Heroes of Turkey – Producers' Meeting and Business Development Training," held in Balıkesir, brought together producers with representatives from national retail and e-commerce sectors. Hosted by the Balıkesir Chamber of Commerce, the event was attended by Lecturer Nevin Polat, Deputy Head of the Department of Marketing and Advertising at Balıkesir University’s Balıkesir Vocational School, along with our students, providing them with the opportunity to closely follow current developments in production, marketing, and digital trade.
During the event, Celal Toprak, President of the Reliable Product Platform, highlighted the importance of strengthening the production-marketing chain. Nazlı Sinem Sözlü, Senior Corporate Relations Manager at Hepsiburada, discussed the opportunities digital trade offers to producers and the support available for female entrepreneurs. Alp Önder Özpamukçu, President of the Food Retailers Association, and Rahmi Kula, President of the Balıkesir Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the strategic importance of productivity in agriculture, supply chain management, and e-commerce for producers. Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Akın highlighted the strategic significance of production in an environment of rising costs and intense competition, sharing the municipality's efforts to support production, increase exports, and make the city a pioneer in digital transformation.
Assessments made during the event specifically focused on Balıkesir's production and export potential. It was noted that the city, which possesses a strong diversity in agricultural and food production, could be elevated to a higher position in national and international markets by strengthening the production-marketing chain and effectively utilizing e-commerce opportunities. While emphasizing that production maintains its strategic importance despite rising costs and competitive conditions, it was stressed that inter-institutional collaborations to support production, exports, and digital transformation in Balıkesir will continue.
The training session held within the scope of the program covered the sales, marketing, and logistics advantages provided by e-commerce. Students gained practical knowledge regarding the operation of digital marketplaces, logistics solutions, and customer experience, while also having the opportunity to engage directly with industry representatives through B2B stand visits. For the Balıkesir University Marketing Program, the event offered a significant experience in terms of allowing students to observe the process from production to marketing firsthand, interact with the industry, and develop their professional perspectives.
