Kaya TUNCER passed away peacefully on January 7, 2012, at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by his family.

Kaya TUNCER established ESBAÞ in 1989 and embarked on the development of the Aegean Free Zone. After hard work for 22 years, he created one of the leading industrial parks of the world where 240 companies are engaged in manufacturing and trade and 19,500 persons are employed; it has an annual trade volume of more than 5 billion dollars, and employees are provided with all modern social benefits.

Kaya TUNCER founded Space Camp Turkey, one of three space camps in the world which has brought together more than 100,000 young people from 55 countries. His Global Friendship Through Space Education foundation provided more than 5300 scholarships for students from 27 countries to attend the camp.

Kaya TUNCER also made charitable contributions to improve the lives of Izmir residents. These include the Gymnasium he built for the youth of Gaziemir, a Women’s Shelter for Gaziemir women, a substantial contribution toward the construction of a guesthouse by KITVAK (Bone Marrow Transplants and Oncology Research and Development Foundation) and financial contributions to the organization of Izmir EXPO 2020.

Good men never die. Turkey and Izmir will always remember Kaya TUNCER with thanks and gratitude.