
Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTSO) has added a new one to its work that guides the business world. Accelerating its work for the digital transformation of the 'Historical Bazaar and Inns Area', which forms the heart of trade in Bursa, BTSO has prepared e-commerce training programs in order to bring the region's tradesmen to the global showcase.
The introductory meeting of the 'Payitaht Bazaar Digital Transformation Center E-Commerce Training Program' was held in the Chamber of Commerce Building. In addition to the meeting in question, the 5th term certificate ceremony of the "Young Digital Entrepreneurship Academy", which was implemented within the scope of the Bursa Eskişehir Bilecik Development Agency (BEBKA) Social Development Support Program (SOGEP) and in which BTSO is among the stakeholders, was held.
Speaking at the opening of the program, BTSO Board Member Abidin Şakir Özen said that they came together within the scope of two important projects that bring together both the accumulation of the past and the vision of the future. Özen, who said that the Historical Bazaar and Inns Region has a special place in the trade history of not only Bursa but also Anatolia, said, “This region has been the center of both economic mobility and social solidarity for centuries. However, times are changing. The rules of trade are being rewritten. The global volume of e-commerce exceeded 6,3 trillion dollars last year. In our country, the e-commerce sector also grows by over 40 percent every year. While this transformation removes the boundaries of trade, it turns every point with internet access into a marketplace. For this reason, we have to rapidly develop the ability of our businesses in the Historical Bazaar and Inns Region, where our Chamber also sprouted, to adapt to the new world.”
12 Week Comprehensive Training Program
Özen, who stated that the shop windows of the businesses in the region, which constitute the heart of the trade in the city, should not be limited to the front doors, said, “Today, the screen of a mobile phone is your shop window, and the e-commerce platform is your door opening to the four corners of the world. It is with this vision that we are implementing the Payitaht Çarşı Digital Transformation Center E-Commerce Training Program. Within the scope of the project, we have established important collaborations with leading companies such as Trendyol, Hepsiburada, Amazon and Ozon in the field of e-commerce and e-export, not only in our country but also in the world. Our tradesmen in the region who aim to export and want to increase their e-commerce or e-export volume will benefit from a practical and comprehensive training program of approximately 12 weeks. With the contribution of these trainings, we will have brought our Ahi tradition together with new generation technologies and digital tools. This powerful transformation will allow not only trade but also our ancient values to be carried into the future.”
“The Doors of the Digital World Have Opened”
BTSO Board Member Abidin Şakir Özen said, “Today, we are also holding the 5th Term Certificate Ceremony of the Young Digital Entrepreneurship Academy Project. This project, which was launched by Gürsu Municipality with the support of our Ministry of Industry and Technology and under the coordination of BEBKA in July 2023, has been further strengthened with the contributions of our Chamber. Our young people who benefited from the project gained extremely useful information from export support and incentive trainings to the experience sharing of our e-commerce committee. This exemplary project crowned its success by being deemed worthy of an award by the Marmara Municipalities Union as a result of the work carried out under the leadership of our institutions.
Our young people, who benefited from this project that opened the doors of the digital world to them and prepared them for the requirements of the digital economy, brought the spirit of entrepreneurship together with innovation. By also matching with our businesses in the Historical Bazaar and Inns Region, they took the first and most important step in the digital transformation of Bursa. I congratulate our young people who successfully completed their training, earned the right to receive a certificate and took an active role in the transformation process.”
“Our Projects Will Contribute to the Future of Bursa”
Gürsu Mayor Mustafa Işık said that they achieved great gains from the “Young Digital Entrepreneurship Academy” Project 5th Term Final. Işık thanked BEBKA and BTSO for supporting the project and said, “Today, we started to reap the fruits of the Collective Career Center that we established 5 years ago. In response to the demands we received from the field, we decided that we should also be a part of these projects after meeting with 2 universities and chambers of industry and commerce in our city. BTSO’s motto is ‘If Bursa Grows, Turkey Grows’. In this regard, we should all fulfill our responsibilities. I believe that we will continue to grow these projects even more with the cooperation of our institutions and contribute to the growth of Bursa.”
“BTSO’s Leadership Makes a Difference”
The President of the Historical Bazaar and Inns Union, İsa Altıkardeş, evaluated the Payitaht Bazaar Project as one of the most visionary projects in Turkey and said, “BTSO’s leadership in this project makes a big difference. It is not possible to talk about industry without trade. Payitaht bazaars are the starting points of trade and industry. The importance BTSO Board Chairman İbrahim Burkay, as a name that came from this region, shows to historical bazaars makes us proud. In all the work we have done so far, I have adopted the understanding of ‘If Bursa Grows, Turkey Grows’. I would like to thank our President İbrahim Burkay wholeheartedly for this vision and his contributions to historical bazaars.”
120 Hours Theoretical and 80 Hours Field Training
BTSO E-Commerce and Digitalization Council President İlker Özgüven made a presentation on the training activities carried out in line with the transformation center's work. Following the opening speeches and presentations, the 5th term certificate ceremony of the "Young Digital Entrepreneurship Academy", which was implemented by Gürsu Municipality within the scope of Bursa Eskişehir Bilecik Development Agency Social Development Support Program (SOGEP) and in which BTSO is among the stakeholders, was held. The young people who participated in the program went through a well-equipped entrepreneurship process with 120 hours of theoretical training and 80 hours of field experience.