A major summit by GTO to guide the journey of sustainable development and decarbonization

Gaziantep Business World Gathers at Green Transformation Summit

A major summit by GTO to guide the journey of sustainable development and decarbonization

Yıldırım: We will either transform or be left out of the competition

Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce (GTO) organized the Gaziantep Green Transformation and Sustainable Development Summit to shed light on the business world’s sustainability, decarbonization, and digital transformation processes.

At the summit, held as part of the Enterprise Europe Network Project carried out by GTO, many critical topics were addressed, ranging from climate policies to green finance, energy transformation in industry to actionable sustainability steps for SMEs.

The special session guest of the event, which brought together representatives of the Gaziantep business world, industrialists, producers, and representatives of relevant institutions, was Orhan Solak, Vice President of Climate Change at the R.T. Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change.

Yıldırım: We will either transform or be left out of the competition

Delivering the opening speech of the summit, GTO Chairman Tuncay Yıldırım pointed out that the world is undergoing not only an economic but also a systemic transformation, stating: “The world is entering a new era. This is not just an economic change; it is a system of change. Energy is being redefined, production is being reshaped, and the rules of trade are being rewritten. At the center of this change lies a single concept: sustainability. However, we can no longer discuss this in its traditional sense. Sustainability is not just about protecting the environment or reducing carbon; sustainability is competitiveness, resilience, and independence.”

Stating that the conditions of competition in global trade have changed, Yıldırım emphasized that transformation is now a necessity for businesses, saying: “Today, competition is not based on price or quality alone. Competition is now conducted through carbon footprint, energy efficiency, and resource management. The European Union’s carbon border adjustments are creating a new threshold in global trade. The issue is very clear: We will either transform or be left out of the competition.”

Yıldırım: The issue is not only about saving today, but building tomorrow

Touching upon the effects of recent geopolitical developments on global trade, Yıldırım stated that the business world is now operating on much more fragile ground, noting the following:

“The world is no longer a predictable place. Rising tensions in the Middle East directly affect energy lines and trade routes. Every ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz is now not just a logistical movement, but also a risk. Supply chains are fragile, energy prices are volatile, and costs are uncontrolled. This picture tells us something very clear: those who are dependent on external sources are fragile, and those who are inefficient are vulnerable. That is why green transformation is not an environmental policy, but an economic resilience strategy.”

Saying, “The transformation we face today is different from what we are used to. This time, simply producing more will not be enough,” Yıldırım continued: “Now, we must produce smarter, cleaner, and more efficiently. We must use resources correctly, manage waste, and transform energy. Because now, the issue is not only about saving today, but building tomorrow. This is why we value this summit. Because we know that every business that meets with the right information and takes action at the right time will emerge stronger from this transformation.”

Turkey’s Green Transformation Roadmap Put on the Table

Orhan Solak, Vice President of Climate Change at the R.T. Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, who was the special session guest of the summit, made comprehensive evaluations regarding Turkey’s climate policies, green transformation vision, and sustainable development goals in his presentation.

Solak emphasized that the climate law has strengthened the institutional and legal infrastructure in line with the net-zero emission target, and that transformation is gaining momentum in all sectors, particularly in energy, industry, transportation, construction, and agriculture. In his presentation, Solak also discussed the roadmap regarding the Turkey Green Taxonomy, Emission Trading System, carbon border adjustment mechanism, and the COP31 process, while underlining that green transformation is a strategic development area with its competitiveness, technology, and financing dimensions.

During the summit, while Turkey's climate policies and green transformation roadmap were discussed in detail, critical topics for the business world's adaptation to the new era were put on the table.

The speakers of the session titled "Turkey's Green Transformation Roadmap: Policies, Practices, and Business Perspective," moderated by Emrah Kurum, President of the Sustainability Steps Association, were Tuğrul Çamaş, Zero Waste Management Director of the Turkish Environment Agency; Melih Yalçın, Advisory Board Member of the Green Development Foundation (YEKAV); Konca Çalkıvik, Secretary General of the Business Council for Sustainable Development (BCSD Turkey); and Melda Çele, Secretary General of UN Global Compact Turkey.

The speakers of the session "Decarbonization, Energy, and Green Finance in the Industrial Sector and Production," moderated by Melis Bitlis, Assistant General Manager of Escarus, were Mehmet Üvez, Vice President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Turkey; Zatiye Taş, Head of Corporate Banking and Project Finance at the Development and Investment Bank of Turkey; Tamer Soylu, Sustainability, Quality, and HSE-Q Group Manager at Zorlu Enerji; and Yeşim Piri, Trade Expert at the R.T. Ministry of Trade, Directorate General for International Agreements and the European Union.

The summit, which drew great interest from the Gaziantep business world, concluded with a Q&A session.