Türkiye-Czechia forum in Istanbul focuses on sustainable recycling

Sustainable waste management, recycling technologies, investment opportunities and commercial partnerships were discussed at the Türkiye-Czechia Sustainable Recycling Forum held in Istanbul. On the second day of the program, the Czech delegation made technical visits to recycling and waste management facilities in Kocaeli.

Opportunities for cooperation between Türkiye and Czechia in recycling and sustainable waste management were discussed at a forum held in Istanbul. Organized in cooperation with the Consulate General of Czechia in Istanbul, the Bizim Dünyamız Foundation and the Climate and Sustainability Sciences Research Foundation, the event took place at the Conference Hall of the Social Facilities at Istanbul Technical University’s Maçka Campus.

Participation from public institutions and the private sector

Istanbul Deputy Governor Cengiz Karabulut, Consul General of Czechia in Istanbul Olga Hajflerova, Head of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Department of Foreign Relations Barbaros Büyüksağnak and Head of the IMM Department of Environmental Protection and Control Prof. Dr. Ayşen Erdinçler attended the forum. Representatives of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and the Turkish Environment Agency also took part in the program.

Representatives of public institutions, local authorities, recycling and plastics companies, waste management organizations, environmental technology firms and civil society organizations from Türkiye and Czechia came together at the meeting.

Concrete projects and commercial partnerships discussed

Sustainable waste management, recycling technologies, sectoral cooperation and investment opportunities were discussed at the forum. Potential commercial and technological partnerships between Turkish and Czech companies were also considered.

Bir geri dönüşüm tesisinde atıkların ayrıştırılması (arşiv)

Bizim Dünyamız Foundation Chairman Kahraman Halisçelik said in his opening remarks that they had brought together public-sector, local government, industry and private-sector representatives from the two countries on a common platform. Halisçelik said their aim was to turn dialogue into cooperation and cooperation into concrete projects and commercial partnerships.

Halisçelik said strong cooperation among public institutions, local authorities and the private sector would play an important role in implementing sustainable solutions. He expressed hope that the contacts established as part of the forum would pave the way for new projects and long-term partnerships.

Olga Hajflerova, Consul General of Czechia in Istanbul, also emphasized the importance of developing cooperation between Türkiye and Czechia in sustainability and recycling. Hajflerova said the forum could contribute not only to the exchange of knowledge and experience but also to the establishment of concrete, long-term partnerships between Turkish and Czech institutions and companies.

The future of recycling discussed in panel

Following the speeches, representatives of public institutions and the business community from Czechia gave presentations. The presentations addressed Czechia’s work on recycling, the environment and waste management, environmental information and data management, industrial policies, and opportunities for cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries.

Türkiye'nin Prag Büyükelçiliği binası

A panel titled “The future of recycling in Türkiye: Sustainable waste management, sectoral cooperation and new opportunities” was held as part of the forum. Speakers included IMM Department of Environmental Protection and Control Head Prof. Dr. Ayşen Erdinçler, TÜDAM Association of Industrialists for Recyclable Waste Materials Board Member Kayhan Ural and Dr. Salih Kanbak on behalf of PAGEV.

The panel examined the potential of recycling to create economic value as well as its environmental benefits. Participants exchanged views on improving coordination among public institutions, local authorities and the private sector, making use of new technologies and expanding sustainable recycling models.

Companies held bilateral meetings

In the afternoon session of the program, company representatives from Türkiye and Czechia held bilateral meetings. The participants exchanged information about the companies’ fields of activity, technologies and projects.

On the second day of the two-day program, the Czech delegation made technical visits to facilities operating in recycling and waste management in Kocaeli. The visits were planned to allow the delegation to examine practices and facilities in Türkiye on site, establish direct contact with sector representatives and continue in the field the discussions that began in Istanbul.