Sakıp Sabancı's own words

In the first half of the 1970s, I wanted to buy a bank in the petrol region. I talked with the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank, and even with the Prime Minister regarding this issue. They all said the same thing: Sabanci, it is a great idea. It is for the benefit of the country to have a bank in the petrol region. It is difficult to have state owned banks do such a thing. But if we allow you to transfer capital, there will be a huge reaction. Everyone will talk about the fact that we allow you to transfer capital to a foreign country. You had better give up this dream of yours.15 years have passed and now everybody is talking about how important it is for Turkish banks to flourish in foreign countries.