Having taken up office in May 2021 as the Resident Representative in Turkey of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ms. Louisa Vinton paid her first visit to Gaziantep to review on site the work of UNDP Turkey supporting local socio-economic development. She visited the GESOB Mask Production Centre and the Mechanical Biological Treatment and Biogas Facility, and attended the inauguration of Gaziantep Model Factory.

29 June 2021, Ankara – UNDP Turkey’s New Resident Representative Louisa Vinton paid her first field visit to Gaziantep, the new centre of the manufacturing industry by its population of 2.2 million, strong entrepreneurial and commercial culture in Southeast Turkey in the border region to Syria.

With more than 450,000 Syrians under Temporary Protection (SuTPs) by official figures making it the second ranking city hosting most SuTPs in Turkey, Gaziantep is also a venue where UNDP Turkey works to increase local resilience and promote sustainable growth.

During the field trip to Gaziantep, Resident Representative Louisa Vinton observed the work on site; visited GESOB Mask Production Centre and Mechanical Biological Treatment and Biogas Facility; and met with Mr. Mustafa Varank, Minister of Industry and Technology, and local stakeholders to attend the inauguration of Gaziantep Applied Capability and Digital Transformation Centre (Model Factory).

The field trip by Resident Representative Louisa Vinton started with her visit to GESOB Mask Production Centre which supported Gaziantep industrial district with personal protective equipment against COVID-19 through production of 25,000 masks daily.

The joint project by ILO and UNDP as a part of the response to COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey is funded by the European Union (EU) and German KfW Development Bank, and involves production and distribution of face masks in cooperation with Gaziantep Union of Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen (GESOB).

Masks distributed free of charge respond to the needs of thousands of people in the province’s industry district that houses approximately 4,500 SMEs and 40,000 employees. To date, 1.7 million masks have been produced and distributed by 72 affiliate chambers of GESOB free of charge.

Aiming to increase the resilience to COVID-19 pandemic of small enterprises, tradesmen and craftsmen, employees, customers and visitors through access to personal protective equipment, the project also supports socio-economic empowerment through providing job opportunities to Syrian and local skilled workforce in the protective equipment production sector.

Inauguration of Model Factory

Following the visit to GESOB Mask Production Centre, Resident Representative Louisa Vinton met with Mr. Mustafa Varank, Minister of Industry and Technology; Mr. Adnan Ünverdi, Chair of the Board of Directors of Gaziantep Chamber of Industry; industrialists and local stakeholders for the inauguration of Gaziantep Model Factory. Touring the Model Factory prior to inauguration, Ms. Vinton examined the operations of the centre which would provide guidance to enterprises on digitalization and lean manufacturing.

Aiming to support a structural transformation in the manufacturing industry of the region, Gaziantep Model Factory aspires to become the largest applied capability, innovation and digital transformation centre in Turkey and Europe.

Applied Capability and Digital Transformation Centres (Model Factories) were established in Izmir, Gaziantep and Mersin under the Job Creation Component of Turkey Resilience Project in Response to Syria Crisis implemented jointly by UNDP and Ministry of Industry and Technology with EU funding.

Model Factories will provide practical training and consulting services to enterprises operating in the manufacturing industry, and ultimately aims to improve productivity in the manufacturing industry through guidance to local enterprises and SMEs on digitalization and lean manufacturing.

Aiming to improve productivity by transforming the local manufacturing industry through innovation and Industry 4.0 practices, and open new channels of exports by contributing to the competitiveness of enterprises, Model Factories intend to create new jobs for Turkish host communities and SuTPs and contribute to sustainable growth.

While they focus on digital transformation and productivity, Model Factories are critical to the economic integration of Syrians in Turkey. The project aims to enable both Syrians and host communities to equally benefit from inclusive and sustainable growth that will create decent jobs for all, sustainable income and living in dignity.

Mechanical Biological Treatment and Biogas Facility under construction

Following the inauguration of Gaziantep Model Factory, Resident Representative Louisa Vinton visited the Mechanical Biological Treatment and Biogas Facility (MBT) intended to provide sustainable and environment-friendly solutions to the ever-growing waste problem of the city.

MBT is one of the largest projects of UNDP by its 10-million-USD investment cost, being constructed under the Municipal Service Delivery Component implemented jointly by ILBANK and Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality in the context of Turkey Resilience Project in Response to Syria Crisis funded by EU.

As noted above, Gaziantep is the second ranking city with highest SuTPs, and faces increasing needs for infrastructure development and municipal services due to growing population.

Under the Municipal Service Delivery Component, UNDP has since 2018 been working with Gaziantep MM to improve the urban waste management.

The facility is expected to produce 17,000 tonne/yr recyclables, approximately 23,000 tonne/yr refused derived fuel (RDF) and generate 4,100 MWh/yr energy out of biodegradable portion of the waste, processing 100.000 t/y mixed municipal waste annually.

An exemplary project to the country for waste management by its economic efficiency and environmental benefits, and already poised to be a world-leading plant for its technologies, MBT is to inaugurate in August 2021.

In the province of Gaziantep where Resident Representative Louisa Vinton paid her first field visit, and in other provinces affected by the Syria Crisis, UNDP works with local organizations, chambers of industry, business organizations for economic integration, social cohesion, supporting local capacities, and regional development.

By its expertise of over 50 years in sustainable development and projects centred on resilience, local and sustainable development, UNDP offers long-term, comprehensive and structural solutions to the challenges arising due to the Syria Crisis.

Dr. Faik Uyanık, UNDP Turkey Head of Communications, faik.uyanik@undp.org

E.Ruşen İnceoğlu, Communications Officer, Syria Crisis Response and Resilience Portfolio at UNDP Turkey, rusen.inceoglu@undp.org