Turkey's Halkbank opens first office in Serbia - New offices create new jobs

This office was ceremoniously opened by Serbian Tourism, Trade and Telecommunications Minister Rasim Ljajic, Turkish Economy Minister Nihaj Zajbekci, Turkish Ambassador to Belgrade Mehmet Kemal Bozaj, and Chairman of Halkbank Managing Board Mustafa Ajdin.

- Halkbank formally and legally starts operations in Serbia today and is expected to increase competition in the country - Ljajic pointed out and expressed hope that Halkbank would soon open more offices in Serbia.

Ljajic, who is also the deputy prime minister of Serbia, said that businessmen and citizens had high expectations from Halkbank's arrival in Serbia, voicing his expectation that that financial institution would meet them all.

- If 33 offices are opened in Macedonia, then I expect 100 in Serbia, and if each of them employs 15 people on average, that means that Halkbank could employ about 1,500 people in Serbia - said Ljajic.

Halkbank took over Cacanska Banka in May 2015 for EUR 10.1 million, that is, 76.74% stake in this local bank. Halkbank was established in 1938 and is the sixth largest in Turkey with over 900 offices and 17,000 employees in the home country.