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Türkiye’s jewelry industry is voicing sharp criticism over export-related compliance procedures after a leading sector representative revealed that authorities requested the notarized and consulate-approved passport of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos as part of a routine trade transaction.
Speaking during the December session of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ICOC), Jewelry Committee Chair Ercan Ozboyaci recounted how a major Turkish exporter faced demands from the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) while conducting a business deal with Amazon.
According to the company, MASAK insisted it obtain a wet-signed, apostilled copy of Jeff Bezos’ passport from a Turkish consulate, Ozboyaci told the business-focused outlet ekonomim.com.
He criticized the request as fundamentally incompatible with global trade practices, adding, "Such requirements do not reflect the real dynamics of international commerce."
Ozboyaci explained that the problem goes beyond documentation alone, pointing to practical obstacles foreign buyers face when trying to meet Türkiye’s bureaucratic standards.
In countries like the United States, the limited number of Turkish consulates makes apostille certification—a form of authentication issued for documents to be used in countries that are party to the Hague Apostille Convention—especially difficult.
"In some cases, our members’ clients have to fly six hours just to get to a Turkish consulate for a document apostille," Ozboyaci said.
"No international company is willing to go to such lengths for a purchase. As a result, they simply stop buying from Türkiye."
While the Bezos incident has attracted attention, Ozboyaci stressed it is only one example of broader issues that have been mounting in the industry.
He noted that for roughly a year and a half, the jewelry sector has operated under intense scrutiny from MASAK and the Treasury and Finance Ministry, accompanied by frequent changes in enforcement regulations.
"The pressure has been constant. One regulation changes, and then another one comes. On the ground, it causes deep uncertainty," he said.
In response to mounting compliance difficulties, the sector is renewing its call for a gold-based accounting system, an issue it has been raising for years. Ozboyaci said the current conditions make that demand more urgent.
"We have been calling for a gold-based accounting system for the past seven years," he stated. "Now, we are raising our voices even louder."
Ozboyaci also shared a recent case where a jewelry exporter was fined ₺21 million ($491,636) simply for failing to submit an apostilled document.
He warned that such penalties could devastate even established companies.
“Just because of the apostille issue, this company was hit with the maximum fine. For many businesses, a fine of this magnitude means the end of operations," he said.
The jewelry sector is among Türkiye’s leading export industries, generating $7.34 billion in revenue from shipments between January and November, according to the Turkish Exporters Assembly.
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