BBM Magazine 86 - March-Mart 2025

BBM • MARCH - MART 2025 56 INTERVIEW • RÖPORTAJ We hope you enjoy reading our interview with Gürsel Erbap. Can you briefly introduce yourself? Could you share de- tails about your education, professional experience, and ac- tive roles in the sector? I was born in 1965 in the Tutak, Ağrı. After completing my primary and secondary education in Ankara, I graduated from Tutak High School as the top student. In 1988, I graduated with top honors from the Faculty of Agriculture at Yüzüncü Yıl Uni- versity as an Agricultural Engineer. I later completed my mas- ter’s degree in Agricultural Engineering at Trakya University. To further enhance my professional knowledge and skills, I received specialized training at the Bühler Milling Engineering School in Switzerland and Germany. I have been serving as a professional manager and founding partner in the food sector, particularly in the flour, starch, and glucose industries, for 34 years. I have actively served on the boards of the Turkish Flour Industrialists’ Federation, the Mar- mara Region Flour Industrialists’ Association, and the Istanbul Exporters’ Association. Between 2011 and 2013, I served as the Chairman of the Board of the Tekirdağ Sports Club, highlighting my commitment to sports and social responsibility. Currently, I serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Tekirdağ Commodity Exchange and as the Chairman of the Board of Di- rectors and Executive Board of Doruk Un Sanayi A.Ş., of which I am a founding partner. Since December 21, 2024, I have also been serving as the Chairman of the Board of the Turkish Grain Suppliers Association (HUBUDER). What can you tell us about the Turkish Grain Suppliers As- sociation (HUBUDER)? What are its activities and contribu- tions to the sector? Could you also share details about the annual international grain conference? The Turkish Grain Suppliers Association was established in 2012 to bring together companies engaged in grain trade un- der one roof and to lead practices that contribute to the inter- ests of the sector and the country in grain trade. Its headquar- ters is in Istanbul. The association’s goal is to promote solidarity among its members and to remove barriers to free trade, thereby ensur- ing the optimal utilization of potential in grain trade. In this context, HUBUDER works to increase the sector’s international integration and competitiveness, coordinates ef- forts between the public and private sectors, communicates is- sues and solution proposals related to grain trade to the public and relevant authorities, and engages in activities to enhance trade among its members. As of today, we have 165 members, making HUBUDER the umbrella civil society organization of our sector. Our members operate in 15 different fields, including domestic and interna- cellenen ticaret politikalarının etkileri gibi kritik konulara da değiniyoruz. Sayın Gürsel Erbap ile gerçekleştirdiğimiz röportajı keyifle okumanızı dileriz. Gürsel Erbap’ı kısaca tanıyabilir miyiz? Eğitim hayatı- nız, mesleki deneyimleriniz ve sektördeki aktif rolleriniz hakkında bilgi verebilir misiniz? 1965 yılında Ağrı’nın Tutak ilçesinde dünyaya geldim. İlk ve ortaöğrenimimi Ankara’da tamamladıktan sonra, lise eğitimi- mi Tutak Lisesi’nde birincilikle bitirdim. 1988 yılında Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi’nden Ziraat Mühendisi olarak birincilikle mezun oldum. Ardından, Trakya Üniversitesi’nde Ziraat Mühendisliği alanında yüksek lisansımı tamamladım. Mesleki bilgi ve yetkinliklerimi artırmak amacıyla, İsviçre ve Almanya’da Bühler Değirmen Mühendisliği Okulu’nda özel eğitimler aldım. Gıda sektöründe, özellikle un, nişasta ve glukoz alanların- da, 34 yıldır profesyonel yönetici ve kurucu ortak olarak hiz-