Enerjisa Enerji to Contribute to Economic Development in 11 Provinces

Enerjisa Enerji to support economic development in 11 provinces affected by the 6 February earthquakes centred in Kahramanmaraş. A presentation meeting for the Regional Reconstruction and Development Centre (RRDC) project, established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Turkey, Adana Chamber of Commerce, Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce and Needs Map, was held in Adana. At the meeting, details of the RRDC project, which will support the reconstruction and development of 11 earthquake-affected provinces in economic, social, cultural and civil society areas, were shared. Accordingly, through the RRDC project, businesses and institutions in the region will be supported in areas such as grants, workspace, training, cooperation and access to appropriate financing. Within the scope of the project, the centres in Adana and Gaziantep will facilitate the identification of small businesses in the earthquake zone and their needs, and the provision of support. Enerjisa Enerji will undertake the economic development pillar of the project, which is also supported by the 'Better Future' platform it launched in July to contribute to Turkey's economic productivity. As the sole private sector stakeholder of the RRDC project, Enerjisa Enerji will provide funds and support to economic development efforts, thereby aiming to accelerate employment and economic development in the region.

'We are proud to be the sole private sector supporter of the RRDC project'

Enerjisa Enerji Chief Executive Officer Murat Pınar said in his remarks that they are producing solutions for Turkey's economic productivity through the 'Better Future' platform. Commenting on the RRDC project, Pınar stated: 'On the other hand, as a company operating in the earthquake zone, we are taking responsibility for preparing this region for a better future. We have been here since the first moment of the earthquake by keeping the electricity grid up and running, we are here for reconstruction after the earthquake, and we will continue to be present. We are proud to be the sole private sector supporter of the RRDC project, which was carefully prepared by our stakeholders. Through these centres, support will be provided to businesses to enable their return to economic participation and make an important contribution to employment.'

'An open platform for interested private sector and civil society organisations'

UNDP Turkey Resident Representative Louisa Vinton said that in very few countries in the world can the private sector and civil society mobilise as they have in Turkey after the earthquake. Vinton pointed to the solidarity shown by the Adana and Gaziantep chambers of commerce with provinces that experienced more severe destruction despite being in the earthquake zone, and noted that the idea of the Regional Reconstruction and Development Centre is based on these examples of energy and solidarity. Emphasising the importance of supporting the workforce alongside needs such as shelter in the region, Vinton said: 'We see that small-scale businesses across the region have suffered heavy damage. We know there is a shortage of skilled labour.' Vinton, expressing hope that support for the earthquake zone would be further expanded through the RRDC project, said: 'This is an open platform. It is a platform that interested private sector and civil society organisations can participate in.' Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce President Mehmet Tuncay Yıldırım emphasised the importance of the joint effort at the foundation of the centre established within the Gaziantep and Adana chambers of commerce to carry out work on the socio-economic needs of the earthquake zone. Yıldırım said that each of the RRDC stakeholders has unique values to contribute to the project, and that the centre will provide coordination to achieve the most efficient outcomes from these inputs. Noting that in the reconstruction process the goal should be sustainable economy rather than merely repairing damage, Yıldırım said the centre has also made preparing the region for the future part of its mission. Adana Chamber of Commerce President Yücel Bayram said they have continued working on healing the wounds caused by the earthquake since day one. Bayram noted that each of the earthquake-affected provinces has its own specific needs, saying: 'All 11 provinces need support for trade to continue.' Highlighting the importance of cooperation in this context, Bayram noted that the 11 provinces, which account for approximately 23 per cent of Turkey's economy, need to be supported. Following the remarks, signatures were affixed to the project by UNDP Turkey Resident Representative Louisa Vinton, Enerjisa Enerji Chief Executive Officer Murat Pınar, Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce President Mehmet Tuncay Yıldırım, Adana Chamber of Commerce President Yücel Bayram and Needs Map Founding Partner Mert Fırat. Source