Press release
ISTANBUL, 26 January 2013 - The International Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) from Ljubljana, Slovenia, today presented the lifetime achievement award to Dr. Şarik Tara, the founder of ENKA Construction&Industry Co. Inc. established in Istanbul, Turkey.
The award was officially presented in Istanbul by former President of the Republic of Croatia and the Honorary President of the IFIMES International Institute Stjepan Mesić and former Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia and Vice-President of the Advisory Board of the IFIMES International Institute Zoran Živković.
At the award ceremony, a speech was delivered by IFIMES Director Zijad Bećirović.
Dr. Şarik Tara thanked for the award and stressed he was honoured to be presented such high award by Mr. Mesić and Mr. Živković both of whom he greatly respects and esteems.
Şarik Tara was born in 1930 in Skopje, today's Republic of Macedonia, to a wealthy family. However, like many others at that time, Şarik Tara and his family had to leave their home country. As a 12-year old boy, following his mother's advice, he decided to travel through Bulgaria to Turkey on his own, hoping to find a better future there. Emigration to Turkey changed the life of Şarik Tara and his family. As a young man Şarik Tara worked while going to school. After graduating he founded the ENKA company in 1957, which still successfully operates in more than 40 countries throughout the world.
His name has become well known and reputable in business and social circles not only in Turkey but also in the Balkans, the Middle East and the United States. Şarik Tara may surely be said to represent “the beautiful side of the Balkans and the Middle East”. He has shown that the Balkans and the Middle East can offer a lot to the modern world, but they can also take a lot from it.
He has also proven that the Republic of Turkey is a country that gives an opportunity to anyone who wishes to seize it. Therefore this lifetime achievement award actually represents a form of recognition not only to Şarik Tara but also to his family members, friends and his employees who have been building the ENKA empire for five decades.
The award ceremony was attended by important representatives of public life from Turkey as well as the Balkan and the Middle-East regions, among other numerous politicians, academics and businessmen.
Istanbul, January 26, 2013
