The TÜRKAK 2024 Advisory Board Meeting was held in Ankara on November 5, 2024, to commemorate TÜRKAK's 25th anniversary.
The meeting, organized as a workshop, began with opening speeches by TÜRKAK Board Chairman Ambassador Mehmet Kemal Bozay and TÜRKAK Secretary General Banu Müderrisoğlu, addressing members of the Advisory and Board of Directors.
In his opening speech, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and TÜRKAK Board Chairman Ambassador Mehmet Kemal Bozay emphasized the critical role of accreditation in Turkey’s international trade and its relations with the European Union. Highlighting that accreditation remains a key agenda item for Turkey’s exports, Ambassador Bozay reminded attendees that TÜRKAK is a full member of the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) in all fields and reiterated that TÜRKAK is the sole authorized accreditation body in Turkey. He also celebrated TÜRKAK’s 25th anniversary.
TÜRKAK Secretary General Banu Müderrisoğlu, in her address, noted the organization's 25th anniversary and her 5th year in office. She highlighted the significant transformation and reform initiatives implemented over the past five years, stating, “Since assuming office, we have prioritized a management approach based on ethical values, openness, transparency, expertise, impartiality, and dynamism.”
Secretary General Müderrisoğlu also pointed out a significant reduction in the time required for initial accreditation. While the timeline depends largely on the applicant organization's readiness, the average time to grant accreditation after document submission has decreased significantly, from 10-11 months in the 2018-2020 period to 4-5 months today, thanks to the newly implemented ASIST portal.
The Advisory Board Meeting concluded with a presentation by Deputy Secretary General Serhat Gök, followed by a workshop involving Advisory Board members and a Q&A session.
