“Kilis Workshop” Opening Program Held at Our University

The opening program of the “Kilis Workshop,” organized to comprehensively examine the past, present, and future of Kilis, was held at the Conference Hall of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture of our University.

The workshop, organized in cooperation with the Governorship of Kilis, Kilis 7 Aralık University, and the İpekyolu Development Agency, brought together Deputy Governor of Kilis Murat Demirbilek, our Rector Prof. Dr. Zekeriya Akman, Deputy Mayor Atila Yıldırım, Secretary General of the İpekyolu Development Agency Ahmet Paksu, representatives of public institutions, non-governmental organizations, professional chambers, and various sectors, as well as academics, business leaders, and invited guests.

The program commenced with a moment of silence and the Turkish National Anthem, followed by opening remarks. In his address, Rector Akman emphasized that universities serve as important centers of knowledge and solutions in the development processes of cities. He highlighted the importance of evaluating Kilis’s social, economic, and cultural potential through the lens of scientific research and evidence-based analysis.

Following the speeches delivered by Ahmet Paksu, Secretary General of the İpekyolu Development Agency, and Murat Demirbilek, Deputy Governor of Kilis, Cihan Erdem, Head of the Result-Oriented Program Management Unit of the İpekyolu Development Agency, presented a comprehensive assessment of the economy of Kilis.

Through the thematic working groups to be conducted as part of the workshop, which brings together stakeholders from diverse sectors, participants aim to address the city’s development dynamics, economic potential, social structure, and strategic objectives for the future.