KUTSO CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ESİN GÜRAL ARGAT PRESENTS KÜTAHYA’S PRIORITIES AT NGO CONSULTATION MEETING ATTENDED BY MINISTER OF TRADE ÖMER BOLAT

A Civil Society Organisations (NGO) Consultation Meeting was held at the Zafer Development Agency Meeting Hall with the participation of Minister of Trade Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat and Deputy Minister of Trade Özgür Volkan Ağar. Moderated by Governor of Kütahya Musa Işın, the meeting was attended by Kütahya Members of Parliament İsmail Çağlar Bayırcı, Mehmet Demir and Adil Biçer; Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kütahya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KUTSO) Esin Güral Argat; members of the provincial protocol; representatives of civil society organisations; and businesspeople.

Addressing the meeting, KUTSO Chairman of the Board of Directors Esin Güral Argat highlighted the importance of the twin green and digital transformation in Kütahya’s sustainable development process. She emphasised the need to support businesses in adapting to changing production and competitive conditions, particularly by strengthening the technological and digital transformation capacities of SMEs and promoting sustainable production practices. She also presented Minister of Trade Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat and the participants with her assessments regarding the expectations of Kütahya’s business community, the city’s economic development, and the areas that should be prioritised in the period ahead.

Continuing her remarks, Güral Argat stated that sectoral diversification and increased investment in high value-added activities were essential to building a stronger and more resilient economy in Kütahya. She noted that, alongside strengthening existing sectors, attracting new industries to the city was equally important, and highlighted that efforts to attract the defence industry to Kütahya could create significant opportunities in terms of the city’s industrial infrastructure, manufacturing capabilities and economic development. Güral Argat further underlined the need to improve the productivity and competitiveness of Kütahya’s existing sectors, facilitate businesses’ access to technology and increase value added in production. She added that strengthening companies’ export capabilities and enabling them to establish a stronger presence in international markets were also key elements of this process.

Güral Argat also addressed the importance of retaining skilled human resources, stating that creating the conditions necessary to keep qualified workers in Kütahya was vital to the city’s future. She stressed the need to provide employment opportunities for young and skilled people in the city and to create new career and entrepreneurship opportunities. In this context, she emphasised the importance of prioritising migration policies aimed at Kütahya. She stated that such policies would not only help retain the city’s existing human resources but would also attract skilled workers in a range of fields to Kütahya, thereby making a significant contribution to the city’s economic and social development.

Following the announcement by the Ministry of Trade that the Export Academy Kütahya Programme would also be launched, KUTSO Chairman of the Board of Directors Esin Güral Argat highlighted the importance of holding the training courses in Kütahya in order to enhance the export knowledge and capabilities of local companies, support their access to new markets and increase the city’s overall export capacity. Güral Argat also informed participants that, as part of the programme, a protocol would be signed at the Ministry of Trade between the Directorate General for Exports and the Kütahya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KUTSO).

News: KUTSO Press Office