Recep ATAKAŞ was born in 1953 as the third child of Atakaş family. After completing his primary, secondary, and high school education in Kırıkhan, he came to Iskenderun, the industrial center of the region, in 1973, in order to fulfil his childhood dream of being a tradesman. He started out with following his father’s footsteps and entered trade as a tradesman. Atakaş then quit being a tradesman and followed a more professional path into iron trade. At the same time, he graduated from Bursa Uludağ University’s Department of Turkish Teaching.
He continued his professional work in Payas after 1975. Through the course of many years, Mr. Recep ATAKAŞ grew himself an important name in iron trade and became one of the most important iron traders in the region. During this period, he also worked as a distributor in automotive industry. Later on, he decided to continue his professional life solely as an industrialist and established Payas’s biggest factory with 500 thousand tons of annual capacity and the highest quality iron.
In 1989, Atakaş saw the need our country had towards coal and entered coal industry. Mimicking his previous success in iron industry, he became just as much successful in coal industry (coal for both industrial and heating purposes) in a very short amount of time and became one of Turkey’s biggest coal importers. He invested in these areas, opened coal screening and packing facilities with 2 million tons’ capacity in İskenderun, Samsun and Gebze and opened two coal press factories, one in Payas Organized Industrial Zone and the other in Gebze Industrial Zone.
Recep Atakaş was an entrepreneurial spirit all along. In 2007, he established the iron and steel plant producing flat products in Hatay’s Dörtyol district with a 50% partnership with Russia’s leading iron and steel company, MMK. This plant was the biggest foreign partner direct investment of the Republic history and secured two billion USD foreign capital entrance into our market. This factory produces 2,5 million tons hot rolled coil, 800 thousand tons galvanized coil, and 400 thousand tons paint coated coil. The factory employs over 2000 people.
The iron and steel factory established by Atakaş Corporate Group in partnership with Russia’s leading iron and steel company MMK was named “the best” in finance and project areas in Europe and the Middle East by world-renown financial broadcasting institution “Euromoney” magazine. Recep Atakaş transferred all of his shares to the Russians and ended his partnership with MMK on 16.9.2011.
By the beginning of 2017, he established another iron and steel factory in Hatay’s Payas district. This factory had an annual capacity of 1 million tons of cold rolled coil, galvanized coil, and paint coated coil production.
On January 15, 2018, Atakaş Corporate Group opened Atakaş Port. The port has an annual handling capacity of 15 million tons. It also has enough depth to berth biggest vessels of the world. With this addition, Atakaş Corporate Group will continue to employ thousands of people.
As a doyen of business world, Recep Atakaş created Atakaş Corporate Group from scratch with the befitting decisions he made from the start. Atakaş has become a beloved businessman not only with his admirable leadership but also with his charismatic personality and on-point statements. He was always cited as an example with his relationships with the public and his employees. Philanthropist businessman has always been sensitive and courageous enough to say “I’m in” for all kinds of projects that would benefit the community.
Recep Atakaş has always been active in social responsibility projects. He believed that education matters above all and proceeded to establishing two Anatolian high schools, two industrial vocational high schools, one student dorm and one preschool and offered the schools to Turkish Ministry of National Education’s service. He continues to financially support these schools and provides scholarships to thousands of students.
Out of love from İskenderun, he commissioned the construction of Nihal Atakaş Mosque and planned on finishing this exquisite structure that decorates our coastline.
Ever since Recep Atakaş entered trade, he especially made sure to fulfill all of his duties against the state. He has been the tax champion in Hatay for many years while entering the Turkey-wide list at the same time.
Recep Atakaş worked as the Head of Eastern Mediterranean Industrialist Businessmen Federation and the Vice Chairman for the Head of Çukurova District of Turkish American Businessmen Foundation. He is still the Chairman of İskenderun Industrialist Businessmen Foundation.
As a philanthropist businessman, Recep ATAKAŞ received a gratitude plaque from Turkish Republic’s 9th President Mr. Süleyman Demirel. In 2008, he was honored with Meritorious Service Medal by T.B.M.M.’s parliamentary speaker Mr. Köksal TOPTAN.
He received numerous plaques and awards from various state institutions. In addition to his businessman side, he is also married and father of three and grandfather of two.
