Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

- Visit to the General Directorate of Development Agencies

The delegation's first stop was the General Directorate of Development Agencies of the Ministry of Industry and Technology. During the meeting with General Director Ahmet Şimşek, the contribution of geographically indicated products to regional development, the support of local producers, and YÖREX's capacity to generate economic value were discussed.

While highlighting the importance of branding local products from a regional development perspective, the support that development agencies can provide through producer associations, cooperatives, and SMEs was evaluated. An official invitation was sent for YÖREX 2026, and opportunities for cooperation were discussed.

- Visit to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

The delegation then visited Ahmet Turan Gürkan, Director of Marketing at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The meeting addressed the value chain of geographically indicated products from production to marketing, the protection of quality standards, and sustainable production policies.

Emphasizing that YÖREX is an important organization that contributes to the promotion of local products on a national and international scale, potential joint projects between the Ministry and TOBB were evaluated.

- Visit to the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office

During the final visit of the day, a meeting was held with Prof. Dr. Zeki Durak, President of the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office. Discussions took place regarding Türkiye’s geographical indication registration processes, control mechanisms, and applications submitted to the European Union.

While emphasizing that YÖREX is a platform that increases the visibility of registered products and strengthens producer organizations, assessments were made regarding the Institute's contribution and participation in YÖREX 2026.

During the visits, official invitations were extended for YÖREX 2026, to be held in Antalya between April 22-26, 2026; comprehensive consultations were held on the sustainability of geographical indications, quality assurance, and international promotion strategies.