SEÇER: “WE HAVE ALLOCATED 837 SERVICE VEHICLES TO 675 MUNICIPALITIES OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS”
SEÇER: “UMT IS AN INSTITUTION THAT GUIDES OUR MUNICIPALITIES”
SEÇER: “THERE WILL NOT BE THE SLIGHTEST DECLINE IN OUR DETERMINATION TO WORK”
ANKARA –
The Union of Municipalities of Turkiye (UMT) has provided a total of 122 new service vehicles to 121 municipalities in a bid to strengthen their service capacity. The vehicle delivery ceremony, held at the UMT headquarters, was attended by UMT and Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Vahap Seçer, along with numerous mayors from across the country.
Under the grant programme, which takes into account municipalities’ needs, service priorities and institutional capacities, a total of 122 vehicles, including construction equipment and service vehicles, were allocated to 121 municipalities from different provinces.
The ceremony was attended by UMT Executive Committee members, including Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ayşe Serra Bucak Küçük, Adıyaman Mayor Abdurrahman Tutdere, Ardahan Mayor Faruk Demir, Artvin Mayor Bilgehan Erdem, Alanya Mayor Osman Tarık Özçelik, Çatalca Mayor Erhan Güzel, Gölbaşı Mayor Yakup Odabaşı and Selçuk Mayor Filiz Ceritoğlu Sengel, as well as the mayors and administrators of the beneficiary municipalities.
The donated vehicles consisted of 29 excavators, 26 backhoe loaders, 18 mid-size buses, 16 combined sewer cleaning vehicles, eight fire engines, eight street sweepers, six vacuum trucks, three garbage trucks, three wheeled excavators, two graders, two loaders and one pickup truck.
In his speech, UMT President Seçer recalled that, including the latest allocations, 308 service vehicles had been delivered to 296 municipalities in the first half of 2026, bringing the total number of service vehicles allocated over the past two years to 837 for 675 municipalities.
Seçer: “We will deliver much more effective services to our municipalities”
Recalling that the new administration had been elected during the UMT Assembly Meeting held in May, Seçer said:
“The services initiated under Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu, continued by Mr. Zeydan Karalar and subsequently carried forward by myself over the past two years will continue with the same understanding and in the same direction. In fact, they will expand further as we benefit from the experience gained during these two years, enabling us to provide much more effective services to our cities through the support we offer our municipalities via UMT.”
Emphasising that UMT is not merely an institution that provides vehicles and equipment, Seçer stated that they carry out numerous initiatives aimed at enhancing the institutional capacities of municipalities.
Pointing out that financing and human resources are the fundamental elements of municipal governance, Seçer said:
“UMT is an extremely important institution that explains and promotes contemporary municipal governance norms in line with the spirit of the age and, in a sense, serves as a guide to our municipalities.”
Noting that training programmes, workshops and various partnerships are being implemented to strengthen modern municipal governance, Seçer added:
“What matters more than money, tools and equipment is training minds capable of using these resources effectively and rationally.”
Common Service Model implemented in the field
Seçer also provided information on the Common Service Model launched by UMT in cooperation with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM). He stated that 19 pieces of construction equipment had been deployed to the pilot region of Western Black Sea and that protocols had been signed with nine municipalities, with activities currently continuing in Safranbolu, Boyabat, Daday and Gökçebey. He noted that the model is expected to be expanded to other regions in the coming period.
Efforts to strengthen institutional capacity
Highlighting that training programmes for municipal personnel continue uninterrupted, Seçer said that the Executive Development Programme is among the Union’s priority initiatives. He explained that the programme aims to enhance the knowledge and managerial capacities of a total of 352 executives serving in metropolitan municipalities, provincial municipalities, metropolitan district municipalities and their subsidiaries.
Regarding the work of the Coastal Cities Commission operating within UMT, Seçer stated that workshops had been organised in Mersin, İzmir and Trabzon. He noted that the Coastal Cities Local Government Policy Document, prepared based on consultations involving coastal municipalities, academics and relevant stakeholders, would be shared with the relevant institutions.
International cooperation continues
Opening a separate chapter on UMT’s activities on international platforms, Seçer continued:
“As a Union, we continue to be a strong representative of local governments not only in our country but also internationally. Our aim is not to remain within our own shell and work solely within the limits of our own experience. Rather, we seek to step beyond our borders, demonstrate our capabilities on the international stage, share our experiences, learn from others and implement these practices in the municipalities we govern. We continue our efforts to ensure that our municipalities benefit more extensively from international cooperation.”
Seçer: “There will not be the slightest decline in our determination to work”
Referring to the economic and legislative challenges facing municipalities, Seçer said:
“Municipalities are going through a difficult period. Economic problems, difficulties arising from legislation and the reflection of political tensions in Türkiye on local governments are making our work increasingly challenging every day. However, there will not be the slightest decline in our determination to work. Serving as a mayor is a sacred duty. We all carry out this sacred responsibility. It is difficult to put into words. We undertake highly valuable work that brings us happiness and profoundly affects us both emotionally and morally. I wish you all success and thank you for your efforts. I sincerely hope that, through our future cooperation, the services we deliver to our cities will become more effective, more sustainable and more satisfying.”
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of vehicle keys and a commemorative group photograph featuring the mayors receiving the vehicles, before the donated vehicles set off for municipalities across Türkiye.