- 1999: "Top Businessman of the Year" award by the Turkish National Productivity Centre in Ankara, Türkiye
- 2002: award for the "Advancement of Education in Türkiye" by the Association of Turkish-American Scientists in Washington, D.C.
- 2003: "Turkish-American of the Year" by the Turkish American Association of Southern California.
- 2004: Ellis Island Medal of Honor in the USA.
- 2005: Financial Times fDi Middle East Personality of the Year award. 2004: Ellis Island Medal of Honor in the USA.
- 2007: the Aegean Free Zone was one of seven industrial parks in the world to receive the “Best Development Zone for Investment by Chinese Enterprises” award by the Chinese Government and the United Nations.
- 2009: The Certificate of Recognition by the American Business Forum in Türkiye (ABFT) for the contribution and commitment to the success of American Business in Türkiye.
- 2010: The 2009 “Cavaliere Della Repubblica Italian Award,” one of the five orders of knighthood bestowed by the President of Italy in recognition of service to the Italian Republic for the opportunity the Aegean Free Zone has provided to Italian factories operating there.
Global Friendship Through Space Education Founders
KAYA TUNCER
Mr. Kaya Tuncer, founder of Aegean Free Zone Development & Operating Co. (ESBAS), Space Camp Türkiye and the Global Friendship Through Space Education Foundation, passed away on January 7, 2012.
Mr. Tuncer was a very successful Turkish-American entrepreneur, mega-builder, and philanthropist. He established ESBAS in 1990 to develop and manage the Aegean Free Zone, Türkiye’s leading industrial park. The Aegean Free Zone is located on 2,630,000 m² in Gaziemir, Izmir. The Zone is 4 km from the Izmir Adnan Menderes International Airport, 12 km from the Port of Izmir and 1 km from major highways.
Today, there are 190 companies operating in the Aegean Free Zone. The total trade volume has reached 99 billion USD, with an annual trade volume of 6 billion USD. The Zone provides employment for more than 25,000 people. One-third of all investment in the 19 free zones in Türkiye is at the Aegean Free Zone.
Mr. Tuncer was also the founder of Space Camp Türkiye, one of only two space camps in the world, which opened in 2000. In 2002, he created GFTSE (Global Friendship Through Space Education), which is dedicated to promoting friendship among young people from different countries and cultures through the study of space-related science and technology. Through his generous contributions, Mr. Tuncer enabled kids from around the world to attend Space Camp Türkiye on scholarships
During his career, Mr. Tuncer worked with major construction, architectural, and engineering companies including Bechtel Corporation, Daniel, Mann, Johnson and Mendenhall, as well as with consulting and real estate development firms.
Mr. Tuncer earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from UC Berkeley and an MBA from the University of Southern California. He also held licenses in Civil Engineering and Structural Engineering in the State of California.
His awards included:
MARY TUNCER
Mary Tuncer, co-founder of GFTSE (Global Friendship Through Space Education), Chairman Emeritus of the ESBAS Board of Directors, and a dedicated supporter of Space Camp Türkiye, passed away on September 11, 2026.
Mrs. Tuncer played a significant role in the establishment, development, and management of Space Camp Türkiye, making valuable contributions throughout its journey and helping shape the organization it is today. Her dedication and support have left a lasting legacy within the Space Camp Türkiye community.
Throughout her professional and community life, Mrs. Tuncer was committed to education and civic engagement. Earlier in her career, she taught French and social studies at the junior high school level and served as a graduate admissions evaluator at the University of Southern California. She also actively contributed to her community through volunteer work with cooperative preschools, parent-teacher associations, and various women's organizations
Mrs. Tuncer pursued her studies at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, the University of Grenoble in France, and the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a B.A. in French and a postgraduate secondary teaching credential.