Istanbul: The fourth Polish-Turkish Economic Forum is set to commence in Istanbul, with its primary focus on green technologies and energy transition. Given the upcoming Polish presidential election in early 2025, the forum will also provide a platform for discussions from a European Union perspective.
According to Anadolu Agency, the event is organized by Polish diplomatic missions in Turkey alongside the Polish Investment and Trade Agency Istanbul Office (PAIH). From the Turkish side, the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK) serves as the partnering institution. The forum's first discussion aims to explore the potential effects of the green industry on energy and economic security, concentrating on the experiences of Poland and Turkey with a keen focus on the EU's role.
Among the notable panelists are Ambassador Zafer Ates, director general of Energy, Environment and Transboundary Waters from Turkey's Foreign Ministry, and Christian Ballaro, attache, program officer for Energy and Climate Change from the EU delegation to Turkey. The business community's perspective will be represented by key figures such as Ihsan Erbil Baycol, CEO of Enerjisa Uretim; Kaan Dokmetas, CGSO of Elin Turkey; and Filiz Avsar Aktas, board member of Smart Solar Technologies.
The forum is part of the Polish green business mission to Turkey's Kocaeli province and Istanbul, comprising Polish companies from GreenEvo, a Green Technology Accelerator. "The GreenEvo is a unique governmental initiative developed since 2009 by Poland's Ministry of Climate and Environment. It supports the international promotion of Polish environmental technologies by selecting and mentoring the most promising green tech companies in Poland," stated the Polish Ministry of Climate and Environment. The initiative aims to aid these companies in expanding into new markets and contributing to the global green transformation through expert training, certification, and foreign missions.
In addition to discussions on green technologies and energy transition, the forum will feature a ceremonial signing of the Letter of Intent between Polish and Turkish firms, aimed at bolstering cooperation between the two nations.