WORKSHOP WITH REGIONAL PARTICIPATION AT ISTE
Iskenderun Technical University (ISTE) organised a regional workshop on "Logistics Status and Economic Development of Iskenderun after the Earthquake".
Iskenderun Technical University (ISTE) organised a regional workshop on "Logistics Status and Economic Development of Iskenderun after the Earthquake". Held on 7 May at ISTE Central Campus Fairground, the workshop was hosted by ISTE Rector Prof. Dr. Tolga Depci. Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Suha Orçun Mert, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences Prof. Dr. Nazif Çalış, ISTE Secretary General Yahya Kılıç, ISTE Deputy Secretary General Yunus Soylu and guests attended the opening of the workshop.
At the ceremony beginning with a moment of silence and the national anthem, the Opening Speech was delivered by the Chairman of the Workshop Organizing Committee, Prof. Dr. Birol Erkan, who stated, “Iskenderun has achieved and continues to achieve balanced development in terms of agriculture, tourism, industry, logistics, and finance, perhaps one of the few districts in Turkey. It is certain that earthquakes cause damage to the prosperity of a city. However, as I have emphasized in economics classes, the end of every downturn is the beginning of a recovery period. In regional development, we need to initiate a period of revival for all sectors together with a 'regional push model.” Prof. Dr. Erkan concluded his speech as follows: "I am grateful to our Rector, Prof. Dr. Tolga Depci, who provided us with endless support in organizing the workshop, to our Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration and Management Sciences, Prof. Dr. Nazif Çalış, to our academic colleagues on the committee, to our students, and to the professionals who spared their time for us despite their busy schedules."
During his welcoming address at the workshop, ISTE Rector Prof. Dr. Tolga Depci stated, "After the earthquake, we remained here and rebuilt our university. Just as we have never left here before, we will not abandon İskenderun and Hatay in the future. After the earthquake, we did what was necessary and opened our doors to our people. Now, we are organizing this workshop to address logistics and other sectors." Emphasizing that "even the best project in the world has no meaning if it is not embraced," Rector Depci added, "Together with our valuable stakeholders, we will work on the issues identified in unity. Your participation honours and delights us. I have full confidence that the data collected here will be evaluated in the best possible way."
The workshop, attended by representatives from Iskenderun Municipality, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Provincial Directorate of Migration, KAGIDER, Iskenderun District Directorate of National Education, Agriculture and Fisheries, Dörtyol Agriculture District Directorate, DOGAKA, KOSGEB Hatay Directorate, Hatay Tourism Association, TURSAB, ISTUDER, İskenderun Gastronomy Association, İskenderun Customs Directorate, Chamber of Shipping, representatives from the maritime, logistics, and iron-steel sectors, was conducted in three sessions. During the first session, the logistics situation of Iskenderun and its economic development after the earthquake were discussed, focusing on sector-specific issues and their impacts on the logistics sector. The second session focused on developing solutions to the identified problems. In the concluding session, the outputs of each sector's evaluation and recommendations were presented to the participants.
Following the establishment of common goals and outputs from the data gathered during the workshop, a Reporting Session was held by the Organizing Committee. Subsequently, the members of the organizing committee and participants were presented with certificates of appreciation, and the workshop concluded.
