Tim Cook to Meet With Turkish President Ahead of Istanbul Apple Store Opening [Updated] - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Tim Cook to Meet With Turkish President Ahead of Istanbul Apple Store Opening [Updated]

by

Apple CEO Tim Cook will meet with Turkish President Abdullah Gül tomorrow at the Çankaya Presidential Compound in Ankara, according to the President's official calendar.

The visit comes as Apple is planning to open its first retail store in the heart of Istanbul's new multi-use Zorlu Center sometime in 2014. Apple is also heavily involved in the bidding for Turkey's $4.5 billion tablet initiative that will see as many as 15 million tablets given to the country's schoolchildren, and Apple executives have met with the president about the project before.

john couch turkey
Turkish president Abdullah Gül at far left, Apple VP John Couch at far right at their meeting last year

Cook's visit is part of an international tour that saw him visiting Ireland last week and the United Arab Emirates earlier today.

Update: According to an official report [Google Translate] of the meeting, Cook revealed that the new Istanbul will open in April and will be unique among the company's stores. Cook and Gül also discussed the possibility of Apple bringing some research and development to Turkey, Siri support for Turkish, Apple's emphasis on education as it relates to the tablet initiative, and a request by Cook to remove luxury taxes currently applied to iPhone and iPad sales.

cook_gul_turkey
Thanks Mert!

Top Rated Comments

ardaburak Avatar
160 months ago
[post deleted]
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
luckydcxx Avatar
160 months ago
That's pretty cool that a CEO of a private company has the power to meet with world leaders.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
160 months ago
Here is more details about meeting:

http://www.tccb.gov.tr/news/397/88451/president-gul-receives-apples-tim-cook.html

President Gul requested a Turkish Siri and more investment in Turkey; Cook requested reduced tax rates for iPhone and iPad.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

TMRS 191 Tim Cook Is Out as Apple CEO Thumb

The MacRumors Show: Tim Cook to Step Down as Apple CEO

Friday April 24, 2026 9:06 am PDT by
On this week's special episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple's bombshell announcement that Tim Cook will step down as CEO on September 1, 2026, with hardware engineering chief John Ternus set to succeed him. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos Cook will transition to executive chairman, where he will "assist with certain aspects of the company, including...
Tim Cook Rainbow

Apple CEO Tim Cook Stepping Down, John Ternus Taking Over

Monday April 20, 2026 1:33 pm PDT by
Apple CEO Tim Cook is stepping down as Apple's chief executive officer, and hardware engineering chief John Ternus is set to take over, Apple announced today. Cook will continue on as Apple CEO through the summer, with Ternus set to join Apple's Board of Directors and take over as CEO on September 1, 2026. Cook is going to transition to executive chairman, and he will "assist with certain...
tim cook john ternus apple ceo

Apple's Tim Cook Shares Community Letter After Announcing Plans to Step Down as CEO

Monday April 20, 2026 1:55 pm PDT by
Current Apple CEO Tim Cook is set to leave his role on September 1, 2026, and as he prepares to step down as CEO, he has written a letter addressed to the Apple community. Cook said that he starts his day reading notes from Apple users all over the world, which fills him with an indescribable gratitude. According to Cook, Ternus is the perfect person to take over as Apple's CEO. To the...