TOBB-Led Cooperation Project with ASEAN Countries

Cooperation Project with ASEAN Countries under TOBB Leadership Turkey's Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) is leading a project implemented in cooperation with Adana Chamber of Industry (ADASO), Aydın Chamber of Commerce (AYTO), Eskişehir Chamber of Industry (ESO) and Trabzon Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TTSO) to increase mutual trade and investments with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries. The Project on Establishing a Business Dialogue Platform between ASEAN Member States and Turkey stands out as the first initiative within the framework of the Sectoral Dialogue Partnership Program between Turkey and ASEAN aimed at developing foreign trade and investments. The project aims to establish a sustainable framework to promote mutual trade and investment opportunities between ASEAN member countries and the project cities, and to develop economic, social-cultural dialogue and integration. The project, which began operations in February 2022, will conduct mutual trade delegation visits with ASEAN, bilateral business negotiations, establish an online foreign trade portal, hold country market meetings, provide foreign trade intelligence training, and implement trade-facilitating activities with ASEAN countries. With the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement that entered into force in 2022 between ASEAN and China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, ASEAN today represents a strong structure of 10 countries within the world's largest trade bloc, comprising 30.5 percent of global GDP (approximately USD 26.2 trillion) and one-third of the global economy. ASEAN, headquartered in Jakarta and established in 1967, comprises Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia and Laos. The total population of ASEAN countries exceeds 650 million and their gross domestic product is valued at USD 3 trillion. The bloc plays a central role in Asia-Pacific economic integration. The project is expected to serve as an important tool for building cultural and commercial bridges between ASEAN countries, which are rapidly developing and offering significant market opportunities for our industrialists and exporters, and the project-implementing cities of Adana, Aydın, Eskişehir and Trabzon.

Regional and sectoral representation platforms visited

In the context of the project, regional and sectoral representation platforms were visited to strengthen mutual commercial and cultural relations between ASEAN and the project cities of Adana, Aydın, Eskişehir and Trabzon, to identify local partners with whom the Members of the implementing Chambers could establish networks, and to create a sustainable foundation for long-term cooperation in various sectors including automotive, energy and technology, which are among the project's priority sectors.