Doğan Turhan Tennis Tournament: In Memory of our Founder
As Istanbul Ekspres, we are organizing a special event that combines our pioneering role in the industry with our responsibility to society. This tennis tournament, which will be held for the 32nd time this year, is held in memory of our founder and Honorary President Doğan Turhan, who passed away in 2014. As in previous years, we are hosting this meaningful tournament, which bears his name, once again hosted by Küçük Kulübü, a long-established sports club in Izmir.
The tournament, sponsored by our company and held from June 16-26, will feature three categories: men's singles, women's singles, and men's doubles. Our goal is to honor our founder's memory and make this tournament a tradition, reaching more athletes each year. This special event reflects the unifying power of sports and our company's commitment to social values.
Istanbul Ekspres is Training Future Leaders in the Field of Logistics with the 'Doğan Turhan Scholarship'
Education Support for 78 Young People: An 8-Year Success Story
Istanbul Ekspres, one of Türkiye's long-established logistics companies, has supported 78 young talents over the past eight years with educational scholarships awarded in honor of its late founder, Doğan Turhan. These scholarships, provided to students in the Logistics Management Department at Izmir University of Economics (IEÜ), played a crucial role in helping these young people achieve their dreams.
Following the passing of Doğan Turhan, the philanthropist and founder of Istanbul Ekspres, his wife, Berrin Turhan, and sons, Engin and Ersin Turhan, decided to provide scholarships to honor his commitment to education. This initiative led to a scholarship campaign that has enabled 78 students to comfortably complete their university education over the past eight years.
As part of this meaningful support, Engin Turhan, Chairman of the Board of Istanbul Ekspres, was invited to Izmir University of Economics. Meeting with students in the "Management of Logistics Operations" course, Turhan shared his knowledge and experience in the sector with future logistics managers. Following the lecture, Turhan answered students' questions and met with İEÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Aşkar and other academics to discuss the future of the collaboration.
Engin Turhan expressed his joy at meeting with young people, saying, "We lost our father at the age of 78, and in eight years, the number of students we've provided scholarships to has reached 78. Could there be a better feeling? Our scholarships won't be limited to this; we will continue to support our young people and pave the way for their educational journeys."
The students expressed their gratitude to the Turhan Family for this unique opportunity. Graduates and students who received scholarships stated that this support boosted their motivation and significantly contributed to their career goals. Professor Özgür Özpeynirci, Head of the İEÜ Logistics Management Department, emphasized that the Turhan Family supports students in every way, not just with scholarships, and stated that their collaboration will continue to grow.
Standing strong: The Remarkable resilience of the Turkish moving business
FIDI FOCUS 321 Mar/May 2026:
Standing firm
Türkiye is a land with many faces, sitting at the heart of fault lines that are both religious and political. Yet while the ground beneath its citizens’ feet can often be unstable, the country, in contrast to some around it, holds together. Türkiye’s stability derives largely from being NATO’s strategic regional anchor, and a natural bridge between Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia. But there are, of course, political tensions and economic stresses, with inflation the bane of its business world.
For movers, operating in Türkiye can entail arduous long-haul road trips, navigating regional infrastructure differences along with congestion around cities and ports. Yet it remains a pivot of global trade and FIDI’s growing membership appears to indicate confidence in the future. Istanbul is now home to around 16 million people, fueling an increasing demand for residential moves within the city.
The bedrock of Istanbul Ekspres’s business are diplomatic missions and government contracts, though commercial and household transport operations to and from Europe provide an alternative income stream, reducing risk.
Moreover, the company engages with its volatile neighbours — but is it really possible to do meaningful business with Iraq or Syria?
“Absolutely, provided you have the right experience,” says company Board President Engin Turhan. “We have a track record of operating in these territories during the most critical times, including the Iraq wars.”
Six decades of trust
Founded in 1964, Istanbul Ekspres is Türkiye’s longest-established international household goods mover, with more than six decades of experience in diplomatic, military (ITGBL/NATO) and corporate relocations.
Now a third-generation family business, the company is headquartered in Ankara, with branches in Istanbul, Izmir and Adana. It specialises in household goods and personal effects movements supported by destination services and high-touch operational management — navigating regulatory complexity, geopolitical challenges and operational risks on a regular basis.
“Over the past 10 years, both the domestic and international mobility markets in Türkiye have undergone significant change,” says Merve Onat, Director of Operations, Istanbul Ekspres. “Domestically, rising inflation, large-scale urban transformation projects and internal migration have changed patterns of demand and increased client expectations, too.
“Internationally, Türkiye has evolved from a predominantly outbound market into a more balanced mobility hub, with steady inbound corporate, diplomatic and institutional traffic. These developments have pushed the industry towards greater compliance, documentation accuracy and digital integration.”
Istanbul Ekspres’s international activity is well established in the US market. For more than 60 years, the company has been actively involved in US traffic, including ITGBL shipments and NATO-affiliated moves. This demands high standards of compliance, security awareness, documentation accuracy and financial reliability — and the company’s technical expertise and continuity has enabled it to build trust with its partners in the country over time.
Onat says: “The most active domestic destinations for transferees remain Istanbul and Ankara, driven by the location of corporate headquarters, diplomatic missions, government institutions and NATO activities. In recent years, Izmir and the wider Aegean region have also gained importance as professionals have looked for a better work-life balance and more flexible living arrangements.”
The company, says Onat, sees its greatest opportunity for growth in higher-end moves rather than volume jobs — developing long-term partnerships and offering clients consistency and high standards.
“In Türkiye’s fragmented and price-driven market, we aim to be a long-term partner for clients rather than simply competing on cost alone,” says Onat.
Istanbul Ekspres is FAIMPLUS-certified and prides itself on its sustainability developments throughout its operations. This includes improved packing practices, responsible use of materials, efficient routing and increasing digital integration. Investment in digitalisation is boosting transparency, data security and communication — while strengthening resistance to cost pressures and regulatory changes.
Joining FIDI is a deliberate and strategic decision, allowing Istanbul Ekspres to benchmark itself against the best operators in the world, and helping to raise standards within the Turkish moving industry.
“Looking ahead, our focus is on consolidation, leadership and long-term value creation rather than rapid expansion,” says Onat, “and to transform our history and decades of knowledge into innovative, sustainable and globally aligned mobility solutions.”