Mahdi, State Secretary for Belgium’s Migration Affairs, visited “ENHANCER Project’s Common Use Facilities in Gaziantep”
Sammy Mahdi, State Secretary for the Kingdom of Belgium’s Migration Affairs, visited Enhancement of Entrepreneurship Capacities for Sustainable Socio-Economic Integration (ENHANCER) Project’s Common Use Facilities in Gaziantep within the scope of his visit to Turkey.
ENHANCER Project, which is funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) under the coordination of Directorate General of Development Agencies of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, carries out activities that support entrepreneurs and their entrepreneurship capacities in 11 provinces (Adana, Ankara, Bursa, Gaziantep, Hatay, İstanbul, İzmir, Kayseri, Konya, Mersin and Şanlıurfa).
Common Use Facilities Pilot Grant Scheme, which supports facilities that entrepreneurs can benefit from with the aim of providing support for current enterprises and encouraging potential and new entrepreneurs, is among activities carried out by ENHANCER Project. “The Project for Developing Infrastructure and Building Mentorship Bridge to Develop New Products”, which is implemented by Hasan Kalyoncu University, and Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce’s “Gaziantep Food and Gastronomy Entrepreneurship Centre Project” are funded by this scheme.
On Wednesday, 13th April, Mr. Mahdi, who was in Gaziantep with the scope of his visit to Turkey, paid a visit with accompanying delegation to Kalyon Garage Entrepreneurship and Prototyping Centre where the Project for Developing Infrastructure and Building Mentorship Bridge to Develop New Products, and later on he visited Gaziantep Gastronomy Academy where Gaziantep Food and Gastronomy Entrepreneurship Centre Project is implemented and participated in fast-breaking programme.
Paul Huynen, the Kingdom of Belgium’s Ambassador to Turkey, and Tamer Kılıç, ICMPD’s (the International Centre for Migration Policy Development) Western Balkans and Turkey Regional Coordinator, were also present in this visit.
Sammy Mahdi delivered a speech during his visit and said, “Your hospitality is also valid for migrants in your city. We also used to have the issue of migrants. The war in Ukraine has led to the spread of 4 million refugees in Europe. We will further face these challenges. Gaziantep Model covers more than hospitality for migrants. It is related to investment… It is a model focused on humanitarian capital. It invests in human beings, its neighbours, and the environment. It is successful since it has such focal point. When you invest in the other party, you also invest in yourself. All kinds of support to be provided mean total development.”
ICMPD, which carries out activities in 90 countries and realises ENHANCER Project, based on socio-economic harmonisation, works in migration fields including border management, repatriation, asylum procedures, and the combat against human trafficking.
For detailed information about this visit:
Mehmet Çağlar Aydın,
ICMPD Grant Team Leader
Caglar.Aydin@icmpd.org