Budak Paper Inc., established in Antalya in 1990 by Çetin Osman Budak and currently operating in 5 provinces, has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Igepa International, a global giant operating in 25 countries with $2 billion in paper sales, offering a wide product range including printing, printing materials, and office papers. IGEPA International, one of the world’s leading companies in paper, cardboard, and printing products as well as digital printing solutions, was founded in Germany in 1960. It includes six German paper companies, among them a 204-year-old company founded in 1804. In addition to emphasizing product quality, Igepa also prioritizes service quality in the paper industry. The company currently employs nearly 3,000 people in 25 countries and operates with a warehouse capacity of over 200,000 square meters. Igepa also owns 74 paper brands and generates approximately $2 billion in revenue, selling around 2 million tons of paper and cardboard. Igepa International's General Manager Gottfried Renier stated that Turkey is an important and developing market, and that in countries where they operate, they prefer to collaborate with experienced, proven, and modern national companies that share their vision and mission. He emphasized that, in addition to these reasons, the diversity of Budak Paper’s customer portfolio and the suitability of its company structure played a significant role in the partnership. He also noted that the size of Turkey’s paper market grew rapidly between 2000 and 2006, reaching 3.5 million tons per year. Although many companies in Turkey showed interest in cooperating with Igepa, they were very selective in choosing partners with a compatible mentality. Renier added: “This collaboration will further develop both Budak Paper and Igepa.” He continued: “The Igepa–Budak Paper partnership will not only help elevate Turkey’s paper industry to European standards, but also create easier access to Russia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, thanks to Turkey’s location at the crossroads of Asia and Europe. I’m already excited about the contributions Budak Paper will make to Igepa.” Çetin Osman Budak, founder and chairman of the board of Budak Paper Inc., said: “We established our partnership with Igepa, a global giant in its sector, within a long-term cooperation framework. I’m proud of my company, which was founded in Antalya and has gained an international identity, as well as my team.” Budak also stated that as part of the Budak Paper–Igepa collaboration, they acquired shares in a company based in Germany under Igepa. He continued: “The two main markets for our paper sector are the education sector and institutions. Turkey’s education sector grows by about 1 million students each year. Our company increased its sales volume by 6.5 times between 2002 and 2007, significantly raising its market share. Therefore, one of our main goals in the medium term is to develop trade with Asia, Eastern Europe, and Gulf countries by leveraging Turkey’s geographical advantages.