The Foreign Trade and Logistics Summit, organized by the Center for International Trade and Logistics Research and Application at Tarsus University, brought together leading figures from the industry and academics. The panel, held under the title “A Strategic Duo in Regional Development: The Importance of Exports and Logistics,” addressed the Çukurova region’s strategic position within the global trade network and its vision for the future.
The panel, which opened with a keynote speech by Tarsus University Rector Prof. Dr. Ali Özen, was moderated by Çağ University Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Koç. In his remarks during the panel, Prof. Dr. Koç emphasized the region’s potential for foreign trade. Noting that the infrastructure provided by the Adana industrial zone and the Mersin port hub is transforming the region into a future logistics hub, Koç stated that regional airport and new container port projects would further strengthen this position.
In his remarks at the panel, Zeki Kıvanç, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Adana Chamber of Industry, emphasized the production and export cycle and noted that logistics plays a critical role in this chain. Highlighting the strength and resilience of Turkish industry, Kıvanç stated that the country’s geopolitical location is a key factor in weathering global logistics crises with minimal damage. Stressing the importance of managing these processes with a strategic approach, Kıvanç emphasized that logistics capabilities make a direct and significant contribution to both national development and employment figures.
H. Ruhi Koçak, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tarsus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, touched on the region’s historical and geographical depth in his speech. He highlighted that Tarsus, which has served as a port and trade gateway since ancient times, has a logistics identity open to development through modern investments. 
Ertaç Tok, Chairman of the UTİKAD Mediterranean Region Working Group, who addressed the sector’s operational and technological transformation during the panel, discussed logistics’ position within trade and industry. He emphasized that digitalization, the impact of artificial intelligence, and compliance with the Green Deal have shifted from being a preference to becoming a necessity.