While the effects of climate change are being felt all over the world, Turkey continues to take important steps in combating this global problem. Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır made important statements about the $400 million Turkey Social Inclusive Green Transition Project (SoGreen), which was implemented in cooperation with the World Bank in order to bring regional development together with environmental sustainability. This project is considered a new milestone in Türkiye's green transformation journey.
Decisive Steps to Combat the Climate Crisis
Minister Kacır emphasized that in the face of the urgency of the climate crisis, as actors who can be stakeholders in the solution, they must pursue more effective policies, set ambitious goals and produce applicable solutions. Reminding that Türkiye has always supported constructive steps taken globally to combat climate change, Kacır underlined important steps such as the ratification of the Paris Agreement and the declaration of the 2053 Net Zero Emission Target. He also stated that international environmental initiatives are being pioneered with projects such as “Zero Waste” implemented under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s wife Emine Erdoğan.
Green Transformation Support Programs and Projects
Minister Kacır, who stated that the Ministry of Industry and Technology has taken an approach that addresses the investment, knowledge accumulation and technology development needs of entrepreneurs for green transformation, announced that the green transformation investments of industrialists are supported within the scope of the priority incentive application with the Green Transformation Support Program. He also drew attention to the fact that over 700 million dollars of financing has been provided to industrialists, SMEs and green technology initiatives with the “Turkey Green Industry Project” and “Turkey Organized Industrial Zones Project” carried out in cooperation with the World Bank in order to increase the access of the industry to long-term and sustainable international financing instruments.
Kacır also touched on the importance of the 'Turkey Industrial Decarbonization Investment Platform', which was implemented in cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and stated that through this platform, it is aimed to provide 2030 billion euros of international financing for the green transformation investments of the industry until 5.
Local Development Initiative and the Role of Development Agencies
Minister Kacır, who stated that green transformation is considered as an important opportunity for the balanced spread of economic prosperity throughout the country in line with the Local Development Initiative, stated that development agencies have activated local potential in 81 provinces with this understanding and guided the transition process of cities to green economy. He emphasized that since their establishment, development agencies have provided 530 billion 3 million liras of support to 700 projects under the titles of green transformation and combating climate change and have undertaken pioneering practices in this field. The commissioning of the First Green Hydrogen Facility under the coordination of the Southern Marmara Development Agency and the mediation of the İzmir Development Agency in bringing a 1 billion dollar investment to İzmir for the wind industry cluster were shown as concrete examples of these efforts.
National Strategy for Regional Development and SoGreen Project
Minister Kacır stated that the dissemination of resource efficiency and circular economy practices, support for green businesses and initiatives, and evaluation of potentials for blue growth were determined as priorities in the 2024-2028 Regional Development National Strategy, which is the five-year roadmap of regional development studies, and announced that the Turkey Social Inclusive Green Transition Project (SoGreen) with a budget of 400 million dollars was implemented in cooperation with the World Bank in line with this strategy.
Objectives and Components of the SoGreen Project
Minister Kacır stated that with the SoGreen Project, in which development agencies will take part as implementers, they aim to support projects and programs themed around socially inclusive green transformation, increase the participation of vulnerable groups, especially women and youth, in economic life, create green livelihoods and ensure social inclusiveness. The basic components of the project are listed as follows:
Support for Entrepreneurship through Inclusive and Green Investments: With this component, SMEs will be included in the green economy, while women and youth will have easier access to the opportunities offered by the green economy. In this context, 800 million dollars of interest-free credit support will be provided to more than 180 SMEs' green transformation projects, and a total of 3000 million dollars of accelerator and incubation support will be provided to more than 32 women and young entrepreneurs, micro/small entrepreneurs, cooperatives and producer unions.
Inclusive and Green Community Economic Facilities: Within the scope of this component, 175 million USD in grant support will be provided to 172 green infrastructure projects of local administrations and public institutions.
Project Management and Capacity Building: With this component, development agencies will complete the “Economic Opportunities Analysis in Green Transformation” to reveal the local potential of the regions. These studies will constitute an important reference for future project and policy development processes by revealing regional risks and needs in combating climate change in the country.
Emergency Response Component: The fourth component of the project aims to create financial resources that will enable a rapid and effective response to a possible disaster or crisis.
Good News of the Call and Future Plans
Minister Kacır announced that in the first phase of the project, calls will be made in June to provide approximately 1 billion TL of acceleration support for the use of micro and small enterprises, cooperatives and unions. He shared the information that in the second half of 2025, the first calls will be launched for guided projects for green transformation and repayable financing support for businesses.
As a result, the Turkey Social Inclusive Green Transition Project (SoGreen), implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Technology in cooperation with the World Bank, is expected to play a critical role in Türkiye's achievement of green transformation goals and in bringing regional development together with environmental sustainability. This project, which aims to increase the participation of women and youth in economic life in particular, is considered an important step for Türkiye towards a sustainable future.
