In terms of corporate responsibility, and specifically support to entrepreneurs, BBVA has joined the two European Commission initiatives designed to boost innovation and leadership in the digital economy in Europe as founding partner. The Startup Europe Partnership has been launched with the aim of supporting entrepreneurs and their technology-based projects, while the European Digital Forum has become the think tank for entrepreneurs, politicians and lawmakers. Garanti’s corporate responsibility policy continues to be focused on improving access to financial services for the disabled, on education and on supporting entrepreneurs, especially women. In the first quarter of the year, the activity carried out by the Women Entrepreneur Executive School, run by Garanti, has been extended to the city of Diyarbakir, in the east of the country. Garanti has also signed agreements with various institutions, including the Bosphorus University Business Angels Network and the Entrepreneurship Foundation, to support entrepreneurs and make it easier for students to access knowledge related to entrepreneurship.
As regards awards and recognitions, Garanti Bank has been named Best Trade Finance Bank in Turkey by Global Finance and granted “The 2013 European Rising Star Award - Cross-Border Funding Acceleration” by MTN-i for its efficient management of relations with global investors and debt capital markets. In addition, Garanti Securities was named Best Equity House at the Europe Banking Awards 2013 organized by EMEA Finance; Garanti Bank Romania was named Bank of the Year 2013 by the local publication Nine O’Clock; and Garanti Fleet, in the automobile category, received The Outstanding Achievement award at the Interactive Media Awards (IMA) for its new sales platform.
