TURKISH EXPORTERS ASSEMBLY COOPERATES WITH TURKISH NATIONAL AGENCY

Delivering a speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Leonardo Da Vinci Projects and Signature Ceremony between Turkish National Agency and Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) for the Cooperation Protocol regarding Vocational Education and Training, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis congratulated Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters' Union and Istanbul Ferrous and Non-ferrous Metals Exporters' Association affiliated to TIM of which projects have been approved within the scope of Leonardo Da Vinci Transfer of Innovation Activity.

Minister Bagis stated his sincere belief that exporters’ associations, as cultural ambassadors and honorary consuls of Turkey, would improve EU’s stance which has been deteriorated recently and strengthen the recent loose relations; Minister Bagis said that concepts such as networking, innovation and professional specialisation were considerably unfamiliar to Turkey.

Implying that there were institutions in Turkey like Turkish National Agency which can meet the demands in this regard and support the projects when necessary, Egemen Bagis stated that it was a pride for himself to declare Leonardo Da Vinci Vocational Education and Training Programme as the highest-budget programme together with Erasmus Programme in Turkish National Agency.

Minister Bagis, stressed that Turkish National Agency’s allocating approximately 8 million Euros for 33 projects which were approved among 106 projects was highly significant, and continued his words as follows:

“By means of these projects, the innovative practices that exist in Europe in 33 different fields of vocational education and training will be transferred to our country and among other project partner countries. Worldwide innovations, practices, methods and experiences in various fields are introduced to our vocational education and training system through establishing partnerships in Europe by means of these projects. Today the biggest obstacle before Turkey is the lack of qualified mid-level staff. That is why we are in an effort to provide training to the lost generation of mid-level staff in Turkey again. We believe that a much more qualified and of high quality labour force will emerge in our country by means of these projects developed considering the requirements of business life.”