Austrian Ambassador to Ankara Visits Kayseri Mayor, Emphasizing Strong Bilateral Relations
Kayseri, Turkey – February 12, 2026 – Austrian Ambassador to Ankara, Gabriele Juen, accompanied by Austrian Istanbul Commercial Attaché Gerhard Lackner, visited Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Memduh Büyükkılıç today. The visit, which took place at the Mayor’s office, underscored the deepening ties between Austria and Kayseri, particularly in the spheres of tourism, trade, and culture.
Mayor Büyükkılıç warmly welcomed Ambassador Juen and Attaché Lackner, expressing his pleasure at their visit to Kayseri. He highlighted the city’s unique characteristics and its strong connection with Austria.
Kayseri: A City with Austrian Similarities
During the meeting, Mayor Büyükkılıç remarked on the similarities between Kayseri and Austria, particularly in the realm of winter sports. “Kayseri is also a sports city, and with Erciyes being one of the world-renowned ski resorts, our resemblance and relationship with Austria become even more meaningful,” Büyükkılıç stated. He further noted that Kayseri’s ski resort was designed according to Alpine discipline by Austrian firms, emphasizing the distinct friendship and legal ties with Austria.
Büyükkılıç elaborated on Kayseri’s multifaceted identity, describing it as a center for trade, industry, and tourism, rich in historical and cultural heritage. “It is a pleasure to see you in our beautiful city of Kayseri, which stands out with its historical features and gastronomy. Kayseri is not only a center of trade and industry but also a tourism hub, carrying significant importance in a cultural context,” he added.
Kayseri’s Economic and Cultural Significance
The Mayor provided an overview of Kayseri’s impressive statistics, including five universities, 75,000 university students (including international students from various countries), 325,000 secondary school students, a population of 1.5 million, and nearly 100,000 visitors. He emphasized that Kayseri is a crucial international center. “Seeing you in this beautiful city, contributing to its promotion, and allowing you to get to know our city and us again in this pleasant environment is meaningful and important for us. Thank you,” Büyükkılıç conveyed.
Ambassador Juen Acknowledges Kayseri’s Economic Prowess
Ambassador Gabriele Juen expressed her gratitude to Mayor Büyükkılıç for the warm hospitality. She recalled their initial meeting in February 2024 at an EU meeting. “We came here with our commercial attaché. Kayseri is not only a city of sports, culture, and history but also a very strong city in terms of trade, as one of the ‘Anatolian Tigers’,” Ambassador Juen stated, acknowledging Kayseri’s robust economic standing.
Ambassador Juen also mentioned their plans to visit the Kayseri Chamber of Commerce, Kayseri Chamber of Industry, and the Organized Industrial Zone, further underscoring the city’s strength in trade and industry.
Gift Exchange and Dignitaries Present
As a gesture of goodwill, Mayor Büyükkılıç presented Ambassador Juen with a replica of historical tablets unearthed from Kültepe Kaniş-Karum, a site renowned as the birthplace of trade over 6,000 years ago. The visit was also attended by Metropolitan Municipality Secretary General Hüseyin Beyhan and Deputy Secretary Generals Fatih Temeltaş and Ufuk Sekmen.
