AHMET ÜMİT YALÇIN

The West Mediterranean Development Agency (WMDA) is a regional development organization focused on regional growth. Its service area includes the provinces of Isparta, Burdur, and Antalya, located along the Mediterranean coast of our country. Our agency is a public institution with an independent and flexible structure for making expenditures. With its sufficient expert team, it is the most significant actor in project monitoring and management in our region. The agency maintains good communication and cooperation with all stakeholders in its service area by enhancing collaboration among the public sector, private sector, and civil society organizations to achieve regional development goals. WMDA is the most effective actors in facilitating communication with the target groups identified in designated region. The WMDA develops guiding policies in various thematic areas for our region.  The fields in which WMDA mainly operates are tourism and agriculture sectors. On the other hand, it aims to enhance economic growth through strategic planning, implementing grant programs for SMEs and startups, and fostering entrepreneurship. And also specificially, the WMDA develops policies in the field of medicinal and aromatic plants. To strengthen the local economy and improve living standards, our agency addresses climate change in all its dimensions and coordinates efforts with all stakeholders regarding climate change. WMDA develops policies for the protection and efficient use of natural resources in its service area. It also implements support programs for climate entrepreneurs to develop and implement innovative technologies to address climate change. It organizes project preparation workshops for local authorities in the context of building climate change themed projects in the region.