The LOCALINTERNational Training Program which is organised by the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (UMT) for university students in order to promote the local government experience in Türkiye on an international platform and develop local diplomacy and provide opportunities for future cooperation, has started. Organised annually since 2012, this year 21 students from 18 countries are participating in the program.
At the opening event of the program, which will include practices within the framework of the theme "Young Leaders, Local Skills" in this years edition, Prof. Dr. Şükrü Karatepe, Deputy Chairman of the Local Government Policies Board of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, and Dr. Hayri Baraçlı, Secretary General of UMT, took part as speakers.
Karatepe, who gave detailed information about Türkiye's local government system, Presidential Policy Boards and the history of urbanisation, said: "I would like to thank our Union for bringing young people from different countries of the world together with us”. Stating that democracy first emerges in cities and that municipalities are the cradle of democracy, Karatepe talked about the joint work carried out between the Local Government Policies Board of the Presidency and UMT for the development of municipalities and the solution of their problems.
Dr. Hayri Baraçlı, Secretary General of UMT, stated that approximately 30 thousand applications from more than 100 countries were made to the program this year and noted that the students participating in the program were carefully selected. Drawing attention to the importance of experience sharing, Baraçlı gave information about the activities carried out by UMT with a sustainable urbanism approach and stated: "We will carry out this organisation within the scope of the theme "Young Leaders, Local Skills" determined for 2023. It is very important that you are young because you have the chance to look at the world from a new perspective. We thank you for trusting us and coming from different countries of the world."
After the opening speech, Karatepe and Baraçlı answered the questions of the students. The afternoon part of the first days program continued with the presentation of Dr. Ahmet Kazan, Secretary General of the UMT, on the duties and fields of activity of the UMT.
The program, which will take place on 20-27 August, will be completed with various visits, presentations and social activities in Ankara, Konya, Sakarya and İstanbul.