Aegean Tech

EGEV - Foundation for the Development of the Aegean Region

EGEV - Foundation for the Development of the Aegean Region was established in 1992 with the aim of promoting the region to foreign investors. The founding members are;

Provincial Administration,
Metropolitan Municipality,
Chamber of Commerce of Izmir,
EBSO - Aegean Region Chamber of Industry,
Commodity Exchange,
Chamber of Maritime Trade,
Exporters'Union,
Aegean Young Businessmen's Association,
Chamber of Agriculture,
Fair Organization,
Union of Chambers of SME's and Artisans,
Aegean Businessmen's and Industrialist's Association,
Journalist's Association,
Free Trade Zone,
Textile Union

In order to conduct the promotional activities of EGEV, a development agency called EBKA - Aegean Region Development Agency has been established within the legal body of EGEV as a MED INVEST Project.

EBKA co-operated with the French consultancy agency; Fere Consultants and other deveopment agencies in Ireland, France and Germany during its establishment process.

The target of EGEV is to contribute to the development of the economy and industry of the region. In order to achieve this target EGEV carries out the following activities:

Date Bank providing full information on the region including;

Geography and Climate,
Demography,
Natural Resources,
Infrastructure,
Economic Sectors,
Legal Framework,
Useful Information,

Publication of brochures,

Arranging meetings between foreign and local chambers and authorities,

Organizing the region's industrialists' and businessmen's visits abroad,

Hosting foreign investors and represantatives of similar institutions,

A videotape on the region,

Providing an information network in co-operation with the other European development Institutions,

Promotion of technology transfers and commercial co-operations between the small and medium sized companies in the EU countries and the region,

Organizing seminars and conferences.

One of the new projects of EGEV isto organize the biannual - Convention of Global Turkish Businessmen to be held in Izmir on April 30 - May 1, 1998. Following the one held in Istanbul in February 1996, this convention will provide a chance for the businessmen living in Turkey and abroad to meet and discuss cooperation. About 2,000 participants are expected to attend this convention.

As part of its endeavors to help improve the region, EGEV organized a conference last year in which roughly 70 steakholders representing different vocational, social, and economic strata convened for two week-ends to determine the issues that have to be tackled in order to make Izmir "The star of Mediterranea" in the year of 2020. These issues, in order of priority are as follows:

Discouraging Migration from rural areas and other parts of Turkey
Improving the tourism potential
Encouraging Industrialization to be located in specially reserved organized industrial areas
Meeting the growing power demand
Establishments of technoparks
Make high quality education available to everyone
Improve the communication system
Adopting the standards of the European Union as a prospective member
Improve the quality and availability of health care
Preserving the historical, and natural sites for future generations
Availing ourselves of the funds provided by Euro-Med program
Improving the port facilities
Hosting a new Mediterranean Olmpics
Building high quality inter-city roads
More active combat against environmental and urban issues such as pollution, potable water, public transportation
Renovating the airport to meet the demands of increased activity
Making Izmir the center of Fairs, exhibits and shows
Improving the cultural, artistic and recreational facilities
Encouraging the occupation of free trade zones
Improving the relations with twin cities

Following these conferences committees were formed by the members representing the related organizations. These committees started to meet every month to prepare a report by the end of the year in which they will list what has to be done to achieve the desired end.