KUTSO Hosted the Kütahya Press in Antalya

The Kütahya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KUTSO) shared its evaluations of the past three-and-a-half-year period of activity with members of the Kütahya press at a press meeting held in Antalya. During the meeting, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Esin Güral Argat, also outlined ongoing initiatives as well as the targets and projects planned for the forthcoming period.

Esin Güral Argat provided a comprehensive assessment of the activities carried out since 12 October 2022 and addressed the agenda for the upcoming term. She noted that KUTSO had structured its work around four strategic pillars during this period: a strong presence in the field, human resources and entrepreneurship, ecosystem and cooperation, and international outreach and representation.

Over 460 Member Visits and More Than 1,200 Face-to-Face Meetings

Since its first day in office, the KUTSO administration has prioritised field engagement, conducting more than 460 member visits across a wide range of locations, from organised industrial zones to industrial estates, and from sectoral marketplaces to traditional bazaars. In total, more than 1,200 face-to-face meetings were held with members through professional committee meetings and member gatherings.

Emphasising that effective action must be rooted in direct engagement with production and business realities rather than desk-based approaches, Güral Argat stated that during this period, 14 professional committee consultation meetings, 14 professional group member meetings, and 5 Kütahya Evaluation and Consultation Meetings were organised. She also highlighted that KUTSO crowned its institutional quality with the EFQM 4-Star certification and defined its roadmap through three strategic planning workshops.

84% Member Satisfaction and Increased Fee Collection Rate

One of the key highlights of Güral Argat’s statement was the member satisfaction survey results, which indicated that 84% of KUTSO members expressed satisfaction with the Chamber. The fee collection rate also increased significantly, rising from 53% at the beginning of the period to 70%.

Human Resources, Entrepreneurship and Women’s Employment Initiatives

During this period, KUTSO initiated a new phase in vocational education. Within the framework of protocol implementation committees established in cooperation with the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) and the Ministry of National Education, KUTSO became an Erasmus+ accredited institution for vocational and technical high schools, earning the distinction of being the fourth accredited Chamber in Türkiye. Under the project, 48 students, 24 teachers, and 12 KUTSO Professional Committee Members will be sent to Europe for internships and study visits, with grant resources set to increase annually.

KUTSO also sustained the Mentee-Mentor Project in collaboration with Dumlupınar University (DPÜ) and Kütahya Health Sciences University (KSBÜ) for three terms, while strengthening efforts to train qualified intermediate staff through a protocol signed with Kütahya Technical Sciences Vocational School. Additionally, qualified workforce development programmes were implemented in cooperation with İŞKUR, the Zafer Development Agency, and DPÜ.

In collaboration with Gedik University, a project to train female welders was completed with a certification ceremony attended by the Deputy Minister of Family and Social Services. Building on this success, the initiative evolved into a Social Development Support Programme (SOGEP) project supported by the Ministry of Industry and Technology and continues successfully today.

To promote women’s employment, the KUTSO Women Entrepreneurship Office was established, and cooperation protocols were signed with KAGİDER and KAGİMER. Güral Argat also represented Türkiye at the W20 Summit, the Eurochambres Women Entrepreneurs Network, and events at the European Parliament.

Efforts to strengthen supply chains and foster a culture of cooperation were also prioritised. Through Kütahya Supply Chain Meetings, new business connections were established among companies, supporting local production capacity. This approach was further enhanced through the digital Kütahya Business World Platform, facilitating broader networking and access to new opportunities. The KUTSO Advantage Card application also reinforced economic interaction and a sense of belonging among members.

Within the entrepreneurship ecosystem, initiatives such as Entrepreneur Café Talks (2024), KUTSO Virtual Office Inc. (2025), Kütahya’s first startup competition (2025), and the Future Business Leaders Programme (2026) were implemented.

Steps Towards Digital Transformation and Sustainability

KUTSO accelerated its digitalisation efforts through the Digital Transformation Office established under the Türkiye–EU Business Dialogue (TEBD II) project. In parallel, a Sustainability Commission was formed in line with the green transformation agenda. The Commission, scheduled to hold its first meeting in April, is expected to carry out its work with contributions from academics and professional committee members.

Commercial Engagements in More Than 10 Countries

During this period, KUTSO strengthened its international relations through commercial and diplomatic engagements in more than ten countries, exploring new cooperation and market opportunities. Activities included visits to the Chicago Consulate General and the TOBB Trade Center in the United States, participation in the NRA Show, high-level official meetings in Uzbekistan, and visits to institutions such as the Cairo Chamber of Commerce, GAFI, and the Beko Egypt factory.

Kütahya was also actively represented in Brussels at Eurochambres, the W20 Summit, the European Parliament, and the Ambiente Fair. Güral Argat participated as a panellist at the World Chambers Federation (WCF) Summit and promoted Kütahya’s potential through national television programmes and events such as the Oksijen Future Forum.

Additionally, the Kütahya Tourism Master Plan (2025–2029) was prepared under the auspices of the Kütahya Governorship, coordinated by the Zafer Development Agency, and in cooperation with local authorities, universities, NGOs, and private sector representatives. The Kütahya Development Report, published in June 2025, was also presented to the public within this framework.

As part of a business delegation programme to China running until 19 April, a delegation of 67 participants will visit Guangzhou to explore trade and investment opportunities on site, establish new partnerships, and enhance the access of Kütahya companies to international markets.

Visionary Projects and Future Steps

The meeting also introduced several visionary projects for the upcoming period, including the planned SME Organised Industrial Zone Cooperative in Kütahya OIZ and the Anatolian Agricultural Valley Organised Agricultural Zone in Altıntaş.

The SME OIZ Cooperative aims to provide small and medium-sized enterprises with a more structured and robust production infrastructure. Initiated by a decision of KUTSO’s 12th Professional Committee in November 2022, the project has progressed through feasibility studies, legislative reviews, and coordination with the Governorship. It is now planned as a mixed industrial site cooperative with production areas of 1,000 and 2,000 square metres, involving 100 to 120 KUTSO members. KUTSO will act as both a leading and coordinating institution, as well as a legal partner.

The Anatolian Agricultural Valley project aims to integrate agriculture and industry, contributing to rural development and supporting multiple sectors. Güral Argat emphasised its potential benefits for Kütahya, stating that the ultimate goal is to transform it into a model of development for all of Türkiye.

“There Is Still Much to Be Done”

In her concluding remarks, Güral Argat addressed future targets and highlighted uncertainties in the global economy, underlining the inevitability of green and digital transformation.

“The steps we have taken show that there is still much to be done. As global uncertainties persist, green and digital transformation have become unavoidable realities. Vocational education, productivity in production, market diversification in exports, and scalability in entrepreneurship will be decisive in the coming period,” she said.

Source: KUTSO Press