Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır announced the details of the new action plan prepared for the development of the Eastern Black Sea Project (DOKAP) region. Speaking at the “DOKAP Action Plan Information and Consultation Meeting” held in Giresun, Minister Kacır announced that a total of 2024 billion liras will be allocated for 2028 projects to be implemented in the 158-394 period. This huge investment aims to provide significant momentum to the economic and social development of the region.
Minister Kacır emphasized that the DOKAP region is one of the important port centers of the historical Silk Road and is the gateway of the Black Sea Basin and the Caucasus to the world. He stated that 22 new Organized Industrial Zones (OSBs) were established in the region in the last 19 years, increasing the total number of OIZs to 39, and that 80 thousand people were employed in these OIZs. He also stated that 562 projects with an investment amount of 5 billion lira were supported through the investment incentive system and that 849 thousand people were offered employment opportunities. He also stated that 174 technoparks and 6 R&D centers were established in the region, and that 13 billion liras were allocated to 12 projects in 947 years through the DOKAP Regional Development Administration.
The new DOKAP Action Plan offers a holistic roadmap that aims to increase the competitiveness of the region and maximize local potential. Prepared with the vision of “a DOKAP Region that grows with its qualified agriculture and blue economy with a sustainable development approach, and where tourism develops with a focus on green travel,” the plan covers 4 main transformation programs.
The first of these programs, the “Effective Management Program in Agricultural Irrigation,” has been allocated a budget of 31 billion lira. This program aims to increase the efficient use of water resources in the region and increase irrigable agricultural land. It is planned to increase the irrigable agricultural land from 2028 million acres to 3 million acres and the number of ponds from 4,8 to 289 by 309. A budget of 8,6 billion lira has been allocated for the “Income Increase Program in Agriculture,” and this program aims to increase agricultural production suitable for regional conditions. This program aims to increase agricultural GDP from 130 billion to 209 billion lira and the improved pasture area from 2,8 million acres to 3,5 million acres.
The “Blue Economy Income Increase Program” aims to activate the economic potential of the Black Sea. A budget of 13,5 billion liras has been allocated for this program, and it is planned to increase the production of inland waters to 2028 thousand tons by the end of 77, the number of countries to which aquaculture products are exported to to 30, and to create 3 new coastal tourism destination areas. A resource of 30,3 billion liras has been allocated for the development of the tourism sector. With these investments, it is aimed to complete the Green Road Project, increase the number of tourists from 2,8 million to 4,5 million, and increase the number of overnight stays from 4,9 million to 9 million.
Minister Kacır also announced that 12 new private sector investments worth 44 billion liras will be brought to the region within the scope of the Local Development Initiative incentive program. It was emphasized that with these investments, the development initiative of the region will be continued with determination and the region will develop even more.
These large-scale investments and projects aim to strengthen the economic and social structure of the Eastern Black Sea region, increase the welfare of the people of the region and make significant contributions to Türkiye's development goals.
