Nihat ZEYBEKCİ

Economic Affairs Deputy Chairman

Born on January 1st 1961, Nihat Zeybekci was the youngest of 5 siblings. He made ends meet farming tobacco when young and went through primary and secondary school at the distrcit of Tavas. Upon completion of the Kütahya Vocational High School he went on to pursue and seal a bachelor degree in business administration and a master’s degree in international trade from the universities of Marmara and İstanbul, respectively. 

Following years of hands-on experience in the car spare parts production, in İstanbul, and with the Demirören Group he began working as an export manager in one of Denizli’s textile companies. Later on he went on to set-up his own company called Turkuaz Textile that currently employs app. 1 200 people and operating in the areas of automotive, agriculture, services and textile.  Mr. Zeybekci’s exposure to the private sector culminated in two full terms as the president of the Denizli Textile and Garment Exporter’s Union.  

As an ardent believer in public-private cooperation he served at the Denizli Speaker’s Platform and the Denizli Chamber of Industry. 

He was also a very local person dedicated to the city of Denizli which he managed to serve as the Mayor between 2004 and 2011. However, during these and later years he held two other titles, namely the Acting President of the Union of Turkish Municipalities (2005-2011) and the President of the Union of Turkish World Municipalities (2009-2012), demonstrating his dedication to serve.  

Mr. Zeybekci’s political career continued in 2011 as an MP of Denizli. 

His tenure as the President of the Parliamentary Industry, Trade and Energy Commission was followed by his incumbency as The Minister of Economy in 4 different terms including 3 consequtive ones. 

Succeeding his 2 terms at the Central Decision and Executive Committee was his posting as the Acting President of the Presidential Committee on Economic Affairs. 

Nihat ZEYBEKCİ was also The People’s Alliance’s candidate running for the Mayorship in İzmir at the local elections in 2019. 

More recently, having been elected to the Central Decision and Executive Committee at the 4th Annual Congress of the AK Party, Mr. Zeybekci was appointed as a Central Executive Committee member and as the Deputy Chairman in charge of Economic Affairs by the esteemed Chairman and President Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN.     

Nihat Zeybekci who speaks English and German is married to Ayşen Zeybekci and has 4 children.