2 November 2022, Ankara – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Investors Association (YASED) agreed to partner in promoting investment in sustainable development in Türkiye by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at a ceremony in Ankara today.

The two organizations agreed to conduct joint research and undertake joint advocacy to encourage foreign investors to join the effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Among the priorities shared by UNDP and YASED are fighting climate change, furthering green and digital transition, reducing the risk of disasters and protecting data privacy.

“The private sector is a vital partner in sustainable development,” said UNDP Resident Representative Louisa Vinton. “Working with a partner of YASED’s caliber will help us protect people and planet by steering the economy in a more environmentally-friendly direction.”

“Today the signing parties showed their shared commitment to improve people’s lives,” said Hüseyin Gelis, Deputy Chairman of YASED’s Board of Directors. “Becoming truly sustainable is a formidable challenge that requires action all along our value chains, from access to finance to licenses and permits to the marketability of our products and services. Joining forces with UNDP will help us strengthen our efforts in this direction.”

Since the adoption of SDGs by the UN General Assembly in 2015, one of UNDP’s core missions has been to persuade the business community to reorient its practices and redirect its investments to heighten the world’s chances of achieving the 17 Global Goals by 2030.

YASED is the leading organization representing international investors in Türkiye and works to promote an investor-friendly business environment through forging stronger ties with the global community. Sustainable development is at the center of YASED’s strategic vision and it has a dedicated collaboration platform and working group dedicated to this purpose.

For more information:

Hüseyin Özgür Ünsal, YASED, huseyinozgur.unsal@yased.org.tr

Nur Akıncı, UNDP Türkiye, nur.akinci@undp.org