GE Healthcare to drive transformation of healthcare delivery by setting up new international operations base in Turkey
Eastern & Africa Growth Markets (EAGM) region combined into single international GE Healthcare operation, with HQ in Istanbul
Turkey uniquely positioned to serve this new region
Richard di Benedetto appointed President and CEO, GE Healthcare International EAGM region
GE Healthcare’s products, services and solutions address the ‘Early Health’ model of care
Istanbul, 13 June 2008 – At a joint media briefing organized by the Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT); GE Healthcare, the US$17 billion healthcare business of General Electric Company (GE), today announced its plans to establish a regional headquarters in Istanbul. This decision is based on GE’s business strategy to combine the Eastern and Africa growth markets (EAGM) region into a single International Diagnostic Imaging operation. The EAGM pole has been created to support four large, self-sufficient regions - Turkey & Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Russia & CIS Countries.
During the media briefing attended by the President and CEO of GE Healthcare International - EAGM region; Richard di Benedetto, and ISPAT President Alpaslan Korkmaz, GE reinforced its commitment and strong presence in Turkey, highlighting that this strategic move enables the company to leverage common qualities and local capabilities, reinforces a one-face-to-the-customer ‘One GE Healthcare’ approach. Furthermore this will simplify the organizational structure and promote streamlined decision-making.
With this new operation’s headquarters located in Istanbul, it will significantly focus and support GE Healthcare’s presence in providing technologies and solutions across the region. This region accounted for more than US$600 million in revenue in 2007, and with this new structure in place, it is expected to double GE Healthcare International revenue to US$1.2 billion by 2010.
"My team’s goal is to reinforce GE Healthcare’s continued commitment to providing world-class healthcare solutions to this region, and proactively identify new areas where we can make a difference. Our aim is to build customized in-country solutions to accelerate response time in addressing local customers’ needs,” said Richard di Benedetto. Thanking ISPAT for their efficient work and support in helping to facilitate the decision making process; di Benedetto went on to say. ”Turkey represents a robust platform for economic expansion in this country as well as for the entire region. Turkey is also uniquely positioned to serve this new region in terms of its highly skilled manpower, existing regional partnerships and from a geographical perspective, too.” It was also stated that 240 people would be employed at the new operations base.
"Our aim is to collaborate with local universities and engineering companies as well as partner with local healthcare providers. Our mutual goal will be to design and develop innovative solutions that will be a true local fit for our customers," added di Benedetto.
ISPAT President Alpaslan Korkmaz during his speech stated that all the collaborative work has paid off with today’s scene of pride. Korkmaz highlighting that GE Healthcare’s strategic decision had the ideal value in terms of the desired vision and added values regarding the foreign investments targeting Turkey, said; “This project on which we; as the Investment and Promotion Agency of Turkey have been working for months, has once again enabled our country to be on the global agenda with many positive remarks. With the support of our President; this is a huge win for Turkey.”