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Professor Mehmet Aksit wins HOGIAF Award

Mehmet Aksit, Professor of Software Engineering at the University of Twente, has won this year’s HOGIAF Award in the category of best Turkish-Dutch academic. Henk Bleker, Minister for Agriculture and Foreign Trade, presented him with the award on 18 April in The Hague.


HOGIAF is the umbrella organization of seven trade associations that are connected mainly with immigrant entrepreneurs. Their focus is on strengthening economic relations with their countries of origin and tapping into new markets.

This year’s HOGIAF Awards were presented in the context of 400 years of diplomatic and trade relations between the Netherlands and Turkey, an event which has been marked by an official visit from Turkish President Dr Abdullah Gül.

At the ceremony, prizes were awarded in various categories to innovative entrepreneurs, academics, students, institute heads and company directors of Turkish-Dutch origin, in recognition of their outstanding work in their respective sectors.

The judging panel included a number of prominent politicians and former politicians, among them Ben Bot, Ellen Vogelaar, Annemarie Jorritsma and Frans Weisglas.