WG 5 hosts monthly meetings which serve as a moment to exchange on what members are working on, and include two 15 to 30 minute presentations, followed by Q&A. This month, we had the pleasure to listen to an external speaker: Faruk Doğan, Secretary General of TÜRKLİM – Port Operators Association of Türkiye. 

 

Faruk Doğan presented an overview of TÜRKLİM’s strategic priorities, organizational structure, and the current agenda of the Turkish port sector. He highlighted that Türkiye’s ports have developed significantly since the 1990s, largely through private-sector investment and operation, and today play a central role in the country’s geostrategic connectivity between Europe, Asia, the Black Sea, the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

 

The presentation underlined TÜRKLİM’s main policy priorities, including the recognition of ports as strategic investments with dedicated incentives, capacity development of existing ports in line with growing cargo volumes, the strengthening of multimodal and intermodal logistics infrastructure through dry ports and railway connections, green and digital transformation, and the plan to establish a Turkish Port Community System. The need for such a system was also discussed as an important step for improving data exchange, operational efficiency, transparency and coordination among ports, public authorities and logistics stakeholders.

 

Mr. Doğan also referred to the broader transformation agenda of Turkish ports, including renewable energy, shore power, digitization, sustainability investments, capacity planning, workforce development and Türkiye’s alignment with European port policies and practices. He noted that Turkish ports are increasingly connected to European logistics, environmental and digital transformation agendas, while also serving as a strategic gateway for regional trade corridors.

 

TÜRKLİM’s internal structure was also introduced, including its dedicated working groups established since 2018 in areas such as occupational health and safety, container operations, general cargo and dry bulk, liquid bulk, Ro-Ro and automotive, cruise and passenger operations, digital technologies and disaster risk management. These working groups meet regularly to identify common sectoral challenges, exchange good practices among member ports and develop concrete action proposals.

 

The presentation further covered TÜRKLİM’s publications, communication activities and capacity-building efforts. In addition to its annual Turkish Ports Sector Report and thematic sector studies, TÜRKLİM engages with its members and wider stakeholders through digital communication channels, including monthly focus videos. Particular attention was also given to TÜRKLİM Academy and TÜRKLİM Career-Port, through which the association supports vocational qualification, professional certification and training for port managers and operational staff on issues such as port operations, legal matters, occupational safety, operational improvement and gender equality.

 

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about TÜRKLİM, please reach out to Faruk Doğan (faruk.dogan@turklim.org)or visit:

Website: https://www.turklim.org
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turkiyelimanisletmecilerid5745
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/t%C3%BCrklim/

 

Upcoming WG 5 showcase presentations:

16.06.2026 | 15:00–16:00 — Benedicta Croce & Hala Jarallah El-Khozondar

14.07.2026 | 15:00–16:00 — Bojan Srdjevic

 

Upcoming WG 5 meeting:

26.06.2026 | 10:00–11:00 —WG 5 report planning 

 

If you would like to attend an upcoming WG 5 monthly meeting and listen to the presenters, please contact Eliane Schmid (eliane.schmid@uni.lu).

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