Exclusive interview with Cüneyt Yalınkılıç, the architect of PerCon
GISBIR PerCon 2027, scheduled for April 1–4, 2027, in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is preparing to build a new commercial bridge between the Mediterranean and the Caspian basin. Bringing purchasing decision-makers and leading technical suppliers of the maritime industry directly together, PerCon continues its international growth with a B2B business development model that goes beyond the traditional exhibition concept. Ahead of the organization to be held at the Baku Marriott Hotel Boulevard, we spoke with Cüneyt Yalınkılıç, the architect of PerCon and founder of PROSENTEZ Media Communications, about the platform's business model, the opportunities it offers for the Greek maritime industry, and the strategic vision behind the Baku expansion.
Question: Mr. Cüneyt, PerCon has become a notable platform in the geography extending from the Mediterranean to the Caspian in recent years. What exactly is PerCon for our readers, and how does it differ from traditional maritime exhibitions?
Cüneyt Yalınkılıç: The birth of PerCon is based on the actual field needs of the maritime industry. While developing this model, we focused on a very fundamental question: How can we most efficiently bring together the decision-makers managing the industry's purchasing budgets with the suppliers offering the right products and services?
The name and core philosophy of PerCon The name PerCon stems from our brand's main slogan, "Perfect Connections." As the founder of PROSENTEZ Media Communications, I launched this platform to gather the most qualified players of the maritime industry within the same ecosystem. Our organization gained an international identity under the main sponsorship and patronage of the Turkish Shipbuilders' Association (GISBIR).
We define PerCon as the Champions League of the maritime industry. However, this expression describes not only the quality of our participant profile but also our way of doing business. PerCon is a closed-circuit and results-oriented VIP B2B business development platform that brings together shipowners, ship managers, shipyards, purchasing managers, and leading technical suppliers.
At traditional exhibitions, participants often try to establish business connections in crowded corridors, through random encounters, and within limited timeframes. Our primary approach at PerCon is different: We bring participants together with the right contacts through pre-planned appointments in an efficient meeting environment.
How does PerCon work? I can summarize the main elements of our model as follows:
- Private meeting areas: Participants conduct their meetings in specially prepared, closed, and comfortable areas without dealing with high-cost stand investments and complex exhibition logistics.
- Digital appointment system: Prior to the event, participants log into the platform via perconmeets.com with their assigned accounts. Suppliers can review their targeted buyers and schedule appointments in available time slots.
- 20-minute one-on-one meetings: Each B2B meeting has a scheduled 20-minute time slot. Thus, parties know in advance who they will meet, when, and for what purpose.
- Balanced meeting distribution: Appointment quantities, buyer groups, and meeting schedules determined by participant packages are planned to ensure balanced operations. Depending on the packages, at least 15 guaranteed one-on-one meetings can be offered.
- 30-minute special presentations: Under exclusive supplier packages, a limited number of companies are granted the opportunity to deliver 30-minute technical or commercial presentations open to the entire buyer delegation and other stakeholders.
- Decision-maker focused participation: We do not accept general visitors. At the center of the platform are shipowners, shipyard managers, technical managers, and other industry decision-makers with purchasing authority.
- VIP buyer model: Invited buyer delegates attend the organization entirely free of charge. Suppliers, on the other hand, select participation packages suited to their needs and goals.
One of PerCon's key differences is that it merges business and social interaction. During our organizations, which generally last three nights and four days, participants are together not only during meeting hours but also throughout accommodation, travel, meals, and social events. This approach contributes to the development of trust, which is highly important in international trade.
Through the events we have held in Istanbul, Sharm El-Sheikh, and a cruise ship to Rhodes so far, we have hosted over 300 leading companies from 15 countries and 44 different fields of activity in our ecosystem. This experience demonstrates that the PerCon model possesses an applicable and sustainable structure across different geographies.
Question: Our publishing group primarily addresses the Greek and Mediterranean maritime community. Why should Greek shipowners, ship managers, and maritime suppliers take part in the PerCon 2027 Baku meeting? What concrete advantages does the platform offer them?
Cüneyt Yalınkılıç: Greece has a very strong shipowning tradition in world maritime trade and an internationally influential maritime ecosystem, making it the undisputed greatest power in the global maritime trade fleet. With its strong shipowning tradition, international maritime networks, and deep-rooted commercial relations, it is one of the most vital actors in the global maritime industry. The Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean are the heart of this power.
When we moved our PerCon 2026 organization to Rhodes, we established very valuable contacts with the Greek maritime community. In our previous organizations, respected Greek shipowning and ship management entities such as Hellenic Star Shipping and Seanergy Shipmanagement also took part in our ecosystem. These participations further strengthened the commercial and industrial cooperation potential between Greece and PerCon.
I believe Baku 2027 offers two significant opportunities for the Greek maritime industry.
For Greek shipowners, ship managers, and buyers: Today, fleet operators must consider both quality and cost-effectiveness in maintenance, repair, spare parts, and technical supply processes. PerCon offers Greek shipowners and technical managers the opportunity to participate as free VIP buyer delegates.
Hosted in a comfortable environment for three nights and four days, delegates conduct pre-planned 20-minute one-on-one meetings with companies suited to their needs, rather than spending time navigating stands or trying to find the right supplier. Consequently, they can establish direct contact with manufacturers and technical suppliers from Turkey, the Caspian basin, and Europe.
For Greek maritime suppliers and service providers: Greece possesses significant expertise in engineering, ship equipment, technical service, and maritime services. Conversely, the developing commercial activities along the Caspian basin and the Middle Corridor create new business opportunities for these companies.
PerCon 2027 Baku will directly connect Greek suppliers with major ports, shipyards, and maritime organizations in Azerbaijan. Baku Port, Baku Shipyard, and ASCO are among the confirmed participants of our organization. This strong corporate presence creates a crucial opportunity for Greek companies regarding access to potential customers and purchasing decision-makers in the region.
Greek companies will have the chance to reach new customers and business partners through pre-planned B2B meetings without enduring the high stand and logistics costs of traditional exhibitions.
In short, PerCon is not just a new event for the Greek maritime industry; it is a strategic business development opportunity to enhance existing supply networks and expand into the Caspian and Eurasian markets.
Question: After the 2024 Istanbul, 2025 Sharm El-Sheikh, and 2026 Rhodes Cruise stages, you routed the 2027 destination to the Caspian basin, to Baku. What is the strategic vision behind this decision?
Cüneyt Yalınkılıç: We shape the development of PerCon by listening to the industry's needs at every event and evaluating the feedback we receive from the field. Our Baku decision is a result of this approach.
This choice does not stem solely from our strong relations with brotherly Azerbaijan or travel convenience. The commercial relationships established by the suppliers participating in our previous organizations with shipyards, ports, and fleet operators in Azerbaijan clearly demonstrated the substantial potential the Caspian basin holds.
The Caspian Sea is one of the strategic centers of the Middle Corridor, which is gaining increasing importance in the development of trade between Europe and Asia. Port infrastructure investments, maritime transport, fleet modernization, and technical supply needs in the region are creating new opportunities for international companies.
As part of PerCon's international growth strategy, we decided to transfer the business network we established in the Mediterranean to the Caspian basin.
Baku's geographical location, developing maritime infrastructure, and its strong economic and cultural ties with the Turkish maritime industry provide an exceptionally suitable foundation for this organization.
Our objective is to transform the commercial connections we established in the Mediterranean into a broader business network extending to the Caspian basin and subsequently to Central Asia.
Question: What are your goals for the Baku summit? What stage are the preparations at, and what are your expectations regarding regional participation?
Cüneyt Yalınkılıç: GISBIR PerCon 2027 will be held at the Baku Marriott Hotel Boulevard on April 1–4, 2027.
Our target is to bring together over 90 international buyers and more than 120 distinguished maritime suppliers on the same platform. As of November, the participation of 75 respected buyers has become official. This figure is a significant indicator of the international interest we have garnered prior to the event.
The participation of Azerbaijan's leading maritime and port organizations, Baku Port, Baku Shipyard, and ASCO, has been confirmed. Furthermore, the interest originating from the Caspian basin and Central Asian countries, particularly Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, is highly gratifying.
At PerCon 2027, our priority is not merely to increase the number of participants, but to curate a qualified delegation consisting of the right decision-makers with substantial purchasing power.
For us, the measure of success is not just how many companies participate, but how many genuine commercial connections are forged between these companies and what proportion of these connections evolve into sustainable collaborations.
Question: Finally, what kind of trust environment does PerCon establish for the global ship supply and maritime procurement industry?
Cüneyt Yalınkılıç: In international trade, trust is at least as important as product quality and competitive pricing. Particularly for companies operating in different countries, reaching the right contact, evaluating commercial competence, and establishing long-term business relationships is not always easy.
PerCon completely dismantles this trust barrier with its closed-circuit VIP structure and a system that brings decision-makers who directly manage the budget to the table. Instead of random encounters, participants meet directly with relevant company representatives through pre-determined appointments. This ensures both highly efficient time management and the initiation of commercial relations on solid ground.
We are not merely organizing a gathering; we are building a global trust brand that enhances the visibility of the Turkish maritime industry's production and service capacity in international markets and establishes concrete and measurable commercial bridges between the East and the West.
We will be highly pleased to see the entire Mediterranean and global maritime community, especially Greece, among us at GISBIR PerCon 2027, which we will hold in Baku on April 1–4, 2027. We invite you to collectively build this new commercial bridge extending from the Mediterranean to the Caspian, and from the Caspian to Central Asia. To participate in this excellent organization, simply visit www.perconmeets.com and complete the form.
