In Appreciation… One of the outstanding examples of success created through the cooperation of industrial establishments and non-governmental organizations in our country is the solidarity achieved between Philip Morris/Sabancı, The Aegean Foundation for Economic Development and The Association of Aegean Industrialists and Businessmen. Within the framework of the above mentioned cooperation, we launched the program entitled “The EU Training for the Aegean Opinion Leaders” as of 2005 and closely followed the developments related to the European Union Integration processes in the cities of Afyonkarahisar, Aydın, Balıkesir, Çanakkale, Denizli, İzmir, Kütahya, Manisa, Muğla and Uşak; realized impact analysis on the basis of sectors and shared our knowledge in seminars in which 3500 persons participated and also at “round-table” meetings. This book in your hands now, is another outcome of our cooperation. It is an end- product of the project on which The Aegean Foundation for Economic Development (EGEV) has been working since 2007. In this study, which we believe is a valuable reference source for the Aegean Region; Philip Morris / Sabancı, once again, in proof of its strong awareness of social responsibility, has not left us alone. On behalf of The Aegean Foundation for Economic Development (EGEV), we hereby express our boundless thanks and appreciation primarily to the Governorship of Izmir, Provincial Council General of Izmir and Presidentship of Izmir Municipality, to the Board of the Chairmen of Izmir Chambers, to all of our esteemed trustees, to all of the trainers who undertook responsibilities in the training program and to all of the participants for their presence and also for their intellectual support. We hope that this book will serve our purpose and will be rewarding for the local and the foreign investor. Sincerely, Yılmaz TEMİZOCAK Chairman, Board of Directors The Aegean Foundation for Economic Development THE AEGEAN FOUNDATION EGEV ‘09 FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EGEV GEV (Aegean by their chairmen or presidents “Balanced and Foundation for serving as trustees. While enlarging Economic Develop- its territory, EGEV held a confer- Sustainable ment) was founded ence in 1998 to determine its new in 1992 by the function. Development of provincialE and municipal admin- istrations, universities, business The vision was phrased as: the Aegean chambers and associations of Izmir “Balanced and Sustainable to promote the city for foreign Development of the Aegean Region Region through the investments. In 1996, this initial through the Efficient Utilization of objective had to be revised based on Human and Natural Resources” Efficient Utilization the fact that Izmir, although the largest city of the Aegean Region, of Human and can not develop sufficiently without And the mission was phrased as: Natural having the full cooperation of the “Assuming the Leadership in surrounding provinces. the Design and Application of a Resources” Development Model Specific to the With the above in mind, EGEV Aegean Region and Based on Com- invited the institutions and organi- mon Wisdom and Participation” zations of the nine other provinces of the region, namely Afyonkara- Following the conference, EGEV hisar, Aydın, Balıkesir, Çanakkale, and SPO (State Planning Orga- Denizli, Kütahya, Manisa, Muğla, nization) signed an agreement of and Uşak to join the Foundation, co-operation for the representatives which they readily accepted. Since of the SPO to take part as advising 1997, EGEV is comprised of 118 partners in the new working plan institutional members, represented of the Foundation, namely “The 2 The mission of EGEV foresees two key elements: Common Wis- dom and Participation. In order to achieve this purpose, EGEV organized a series of Strategic Target Conferences in its member provinces where stakeholders were invited to discuss the poten- tials, problems, strategic aims and the vision of their provinces. The method applied was German ZOPP (output-oriented pro- ject planning). Regional Development Plan”. The first data, to make socio-economical analysis phase of the plan envisaged an inventory and to design regional policies accord- of the region serving as a database. To ing to this classification. The Aegean this end, EGEV organized meetings in Region is defined as NUTS I. Izmir, each of the provinces inviting the major Aydın and Manisa form the NUTS 2 organizations and institutions to join its sub-regions. Izmir by itself is both a sub- site. region (NUTS 2) and a province (NUTS 3). Aydın sub-region comprises Aydın, The mission of EGEV foresees two Denizli and Muğla (NUTS 3). Manisa key elements: Common Wisdom and sub-region comprises Manisa, Uşak, Participation. In order to achieve this Afyonkarahisar and Kütahya provinces purpose, EGEV organized a series of (NUTS 3). Strategic Target Conferences in its member provinces where stakeholders West Marmara Region (NUTS I) is were invited to discuss the potentials, made up of two sub-regions, one of which problems, strategic aims and the vision of is Balıkesir and Çanakkale provinces their provinces. The method applied was (NUTS 3). This classification was paral- German ZOPP (output-oriented project lel to the working plan of EGEV. planning). Beginning with 2003, a series of In 2003, the Cabinet issued a decree, search conferences were held by EGEV in which divides Turkey into Regions all of the 10 member provinces. Partici- (NUTS I), sub-region (NUTS 2) and pants prioritized the specific products provinces (NUTS 3). The purpose of this and assets, industries and actions leading decree is to collect regional statistical to the vision of their provinces. 3 In 2006, EGEV and ESİAD (Association of Aegean Industrialists and Businessmen) initiated a new program called “Seminars EGEV ‘09 on EU with Opinion Leaders” supported by Philip Morris / Sabancı. Educational programs were applied in 9 cities of the Aegean Region for two days, lecturing on different topics of the EU accession process of Turkey. The partnership continued in 2008, with the project named EU Training: Sectoral Impact Analysis”, holding seminars and round- table meetings in 10 provinces of the region. The results of these provincial confer- the SPO specialists for each sector were ences were discussed and concluded at the filled by the attendees and the results have Regional Conference held in Afyonkara- been published as a report shared by the hisar. Representatives from each province authorities. determined the priority industries in each of the sub-regions and the list of Among numerous projects imple- industries for which business clusters will mented by the Foundation, EGEV has be formed. Four main industries of the been also assigned by the State Plan- region were listed as “Agriculture, Tour- ning Organization (SPO) as the Regional ism, Geothermal, and Mining/Earth Based Technical Secretariat in the EU-funded Industry. Interreg III/A Program, supporting the cross-border cooperation between Greece Regional Sector Conferences on four and Turkey. topics were held in 2005. Each sector’s representatives from all over the Aegean An agreement of co-operation with Region discussed the potentials, problems, ADI International is also signed by and the solution alternatives for their EGEV, to promote the economic relations sectors. The questionnaires prepared by between Alsace and the Aegean Region. 4 In 2006, EGEV and ESIAD (Associa- Aerospace Conference”, as the first meet- tion of Aegean Industrialists and Business- ing of a series of sustainable networking in men) initiated a new program called “Aegean aviation. Opinion Leaders EU Training Program” supported by Philip Morris/Sabancı. Educa- EGEV is an umbrella organization, tional programs were applied in 9 cities of providing coordination between member in- the Aegean Region for two days, lecturing on stitutions, arranging meetings between local different topics of the EU accession process chambers and authorities. of Turkey. The partnership continued in 2008, with the project named “EU Training The Foundation has prepared the base Program: Sectoral Impact Analysis”, holding of the regional development agencies by con- seminars and round-table meetings in 10 ducting “The Regional Development Plan” provinces of the region. already in 2000 – 2005, which supplied every province with an analysis of its poten- An Aviation clustering project was tials, problems, strategic aims and its vision, developed in July 2007 under the leadership stated by its own representatives. of ESBAŞ (Aegean Free Zone) and EGEV; in collaboration with universities, chambers EGEV carries out its duties in consent of commerce and industry of the region. and close cooperation with governmental The aim of the project is to build a cluster institutions, NGO leaders and high officials. to promote systematic mutual exchange of EGEV, thanks to its extensive territory and information as well as interactions between its effective membership base, is in a posi- companies in aviation, aerospace and avion- tion to supply all kinds of information and ics sectors. An international conference was links for prospective investors in the Aegean held in November 2008, “1st Izmir Global Region of Turkey. 5 EGEV ‘09 MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS OF EGEV İZMİR AFYONKARAHİSAR BALIKESİR 1 Governorship of İzmir 29 Governorship of Afyonkarahisar 49 Governorship of Balıkesir 2 İzmir Metropolitan Municipality 30 Afyonkarahisar Metropolitan 50 Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality 3 Ege University Municipality 51 Balıkesir Chamber of Commerce