RELEASE: EMBARQ Turkey Officially Established in Istanbul

Buses in Istanbul. Credit: Flickr/ Pierre Metivier

Regional Hub Joins Global Transport Network to Advance Sustainability and Road Safety

EMBARQ Turkey (Türkiye) was officially established in Istanbul, becoming the sixth hub in EMBARQ’s global network of sustainable transport research and implementation centers.

“EMBARQ Turkey represents an important foothold in a region to help improve sustainable mobility ,” says EMBARQ Director Holger Dalkmann. “By bringing together new partners from government, business and non-profit sectors, we can identify and scale-up transportation solutions that improve health and road safety, boost quality of life, and promote sustainability.”

Since 2005, EMBARQ—WRI’s center for sustainable transport—has been conducting research and implementing projects in Turkey, such as the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Istanbul, cycling projects in Antalya, and more. The center’s new legal presence offers an opportunity to engage even more deeply.

At the opening general assembly, Arzu Tekir, EMBARQ Turkey’s new executive director, presented updates on activities and financial reports, while the 16-member assembly voted on an advisory board of experts and leaders in the field.

The newly elected board members are Ayşe Canan Ediboğlu, Ali Rıza Danış, Tayfun Bayazıt, M. Pınar Mengüç and Sibel Bulay.

EMBARQ Turkey’s staff consists of Arzu Tekir, Executive Director; Ali Doğan Şalva, Transport Engineer/Planner; Elif Can Yüce, Urban Planner; and Pınar Köse, Administrative Assistant. The team will be expanding in the coming months to include a senior transport engineer.

“We are very excited to build on our foundation and enter a new phase for our organization,” said Tekir. “Working through our global network, we are eager to develop innovative and lasting solutions that will improve the lives for millions of people in Turkey and beyond.”

Bloomberg Philanthropies has provided the initial funds for EMBARQ Turkey, which will focus on health and road safety programs.

Online: www.embarqturkiye.org
Twitter: @embarqturkiye
Facebook: https://www.fb.com/embarqturkiye

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The World Resources Institute is a global environmental think tank that goes beyond research to put ideas into action. We work with governments, companies, and civil society to build solutions to urgent environmental challenges. WRI’s transformative ideas protect the earth and promote development because sustainability is essential to meeting human needs and fulfilling human aspirations in the future. www.wri.org

EMBARQ, the World Resources Institute’s center for sustainable transport, catalyzes and helps implement sustainable transport solutions to improve quality of life in cities. www.embarq.org