Speaking on the sixth day of the Second Century Economics Congress, Sabancı University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Fuat Keyman, mentioning that cities will come to the fore in the next century, said, “İzmir is a special city in the Turkey of Cities. The future of Turkey lies in the future of İzmir. How Izmir will govern itself. That is why it is important that the congress be in Izmir.”

The Economics Congress of the Second Century, organized by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, continues on its sixth day with sessions held with the theme of “Invitation to Loyalty”. At the congress, which brought together important names, Sabancı University Vice-Chancellor and faculty member as well as Istanbul Policy Center (IPC) Director Prof. Dr. Fuat Keyman also made a presentation titled “Turkey of Cities and Living Cities: Democracy, New Locality, Vitality”. Referring to the importance of the studies carried out within the scope of the congress, Fuat Keyman said, “I also participated in the studies. I would like to thank Mr. Tunç President for both making this initiative and inviting me to this study. The privilege of Izmir, the importance of Izmir, has been registered once again by holding such a conference here. We also thank İzmir.”

President thanked Soyer for his work in the earthquake zone

Fuat Keyman, who also conveyed his impressions in the earthquake area, stated that the work of non-governmental organizations and municipalities was prevented and said, “I am very sorry that Kızılay has fallen into this situation at my age. In Turkey, we have a Red Crescent that sells tents, blood, and asks for money from the tents for the first aid medicines brought by the Pharmacists’ Association to the earthquake area. We have a Red Crescent, which tries to be a holding company first in the earthquake. I would like to thank the metropolitan municipalities of Izmir and Istanbul. We are going through a period in which there is no state, there is civil society, and civil society is revived. I would like to thank Tunç Mayor and Izmir Metropolitan Municipality very much. Because those people needed it. Our municipalities and non-governmental organizations immediately responded to the calls of those people.”

“Izmir deserves it”

Keyman, referring to the importance of the reorganization of the Izmir Economics Congress in Izmir a century later, said: “It is very important that the Second Century Economics Congress is held with the lessons it took a hundred years ago, but by looking to the future, by working together, talking together, producing principles within that future perspective. . This is very valuable. Izmir deserves it. It is also important that it is in Izmir, because after a century, the Izmir Economy Congress was a nation-building congress. A hundred years later, we now live in an urban Turkey. We live in an urbanized global world. One of the most important dimensions of the next century will be cities. We passed from the cities of Turkey to the Turkey of the citizens. There are also special cities in Turkey. İzmir is the most potential of these cities. The future of Turkey lies in the future of Izmir. How Izmir will govern itself… We call Izmir an ‘urban region’. Because speaking from Izmir; It means to speak from Manisa, Bergama. It goes all the way to Balikesir. It’s a big region. I think it is important for Turkey and the world that this region is managed well, that there is a coexistence in that region, but most importantly, that there is a management in such a way that the life of living things and people are not lost. That is why it is important that the congress be in Izmir.”

“We need to internalize the importance of democracy”

Touching on the importance of democracy in his speech, Keyman concluded his words as follows: “If Turkey succeeded a hundred years ago with the Izmir Economy Congress, establishing a nation-state, with education and reputation, it can succeed today as well. While we succeed today, we need to learn from the past, look critically at the past, and prepare Turkey for the next century by looking at our pluses as well as the shortcomings of the past. One of the most fundamental lessons is democracy. Without democracy, there can be no economic development and no justice. We need to see democracy as a system that we will work on and protect. We need to internalize the importance of democracy.”

Source: (BYZHA) – Beyaz News Agency