The 3rd Istanbul Human Resources Forum, organized by the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye Human Resources Office, took place on February 17, 2025, at the Istanbul Congress Center, under the theme of "Talent Based Development."
In line with the vision of positioning Türkiye as a talent hub in the new century, the Talent Based Development model, which places humans at the heart of development strategies, contributes to sustainable growth by aiming to discover the talents of individuals at an early stage and transform these talents into societal added value thanks to its inclusive approach.
Rather than defining development solely in terms of economic growth, the Forum adopted a human capital and talent management-oriented perspective. It provided a concrete framework on how human-centered development strategies can be integrated with sustainability and social equality goals.
The Forum has been organized twice before and has hosted more than 4,500 esteemed guests from 36 countries. This year, it brought together HR executives from the public and private sectors, academics, and representatives of international umbrella organizations such as CICA, ACD, SCO, D-8, BSEC, AU, OTS, OECD, ILO, and UNDP, welcoming over 1,200 participants from 20 countries.
The Forum’s opening speeches were delivered by Secretary General of CICA Kairat Sarybay, Secretary General of the Developing Eight Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8) Ambassador Isiaka Abdulkadir Imam, President of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye Human Resources Office Assoc. Prof. Dr. Salim Atay, and Minister of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Mehmet Fatih Kacir.
Atay: Employment in Türkiye Continued to Grow
Reminding that the Forum is being organized for the third time, Atay provided insights into past events and their content. He noted that Türkiye has faced significant challenges, including the devastating Kahramanmaraş earthquake and global economic downturns affecting inflation and interest rates, and stated:
"It's quite interesting that, during this period, Türkiye achieved a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) exceeding $1.3 trillion. This is an important matter that requires careful consideration. According to traditional economic theory, when inflation is high and interest rates rise, employment is expected to decrease. However, in Türkiye, employment has not dropped, and the country has continued to grow. When we explore the reason behind this, we uncover a crucial factor. We have data on 40 million employees across 120 different parameters. This is a big dataset. Through countless analyses conducted on this big data, we observe that despite the adversities of recent times—ranging from regional conflicts to political crises—Türkiye has maintained its course and demonstrated remarkable performance. The underlying reason for this success is the substantial investment in human capital over the past 22 years."
Providing participants with information about the factors that emerged from data analysis, Atay stated that increasing the number of educational institutions yielded significant results, that investment in people facilitated 2.9 times more development than investment in physical capital, and that this was the driving force of sustainability.
Emphasizing the importance of physical capital investment in economies, Atay remarked: "As many of you know, Türkiye is not a country rich in oil or natural gas resources. The level of development Türkiye has reached today is the result of the substantial investments made in human capital over the past 22 years."
Kacir: “We Always Put Our Human Resources at the Center of the Steps We Take for Türkiye”
Kacir, emphasizing that the foundations of economic and social development have been shaped by the prevailing dynamics of each era throughout history, stated, "The level of development of nations is now measured more by industrial production than by natural resources. However, with the initiation of the information age in the second half of the 20th century, knowledge, technology, and innovation, rather than physical assets, have moved to the center of economic power. Once based on agricultural production, industrial power, and natural resources, growth models have now shifted to a knowledge economy, innovation, and talent development. The reality of the new era is this: talent is the most valuable asset, and innovation is the locomotive of sustainable growth. Kacir underlined thatcountries recognizing human capital as their most valuable asset and prioritizing talent development as a strategic imperative will emerge as future leaders. He noted that Türkiye’s median age today is 34, making it significantly younger than many developed nations by 10-15 years. "We see this demographic advantage not merely as a statistic but as the strongest driving force behind our vision to elevate Türkiye beyond the level of contemporary civilizations," he added.
Minister Kacir emphasized that, in line with the National Technology Initiative, they have always placed human resources at the core of the steps taken for a stronger and more prosperous Türkiye. He stated that over the past 22 years, they have implemented a wide range of initiatives to enhance the quality of human resources, spanning from universities to technoparks, R&D centers to entrepreneurship support programs.
Kacir concluded, "By supporting qualified human resources, we have become a country capable of developing and producing its own training aircraft, helicopters, marine platforms, land vehicles, and satellites, and making significant breakthroughs."
Outputs from the Forum Will Guide Human-Centered Development Policies
At the Forum, which enables the sharing and development of human resources strategies successfully implemented at national and international levels, the programs carried out by international organizations in the fields of development and talent management were evaluated. Besides, the Forum, which shapes the global agenda, served as a platform for discussing the policy recommendations offered by international organizations.
During the Forum, a panel titled “Talent Based Development from the Employers' Perspective: The Case of Türkiye” was held under the moderation of Özgür Burak Akkol, President of the Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TISK). Canan Özsoy, Chairperson of AmCham Türkiye, Mahmut Asmalı, President of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (MÜSİAD), and Işıl Yalçın, Vice Chairperson of International Investors Association (YASED) participated in the panel.
The panel titled "Development from the Perspective of Umbrella Organizations," moderated by Prof. Dr. Kerem Alkin, included Achraf Bouali, Head of the OECD Istanbul Centre, Steliana Nedera, Director of the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub, and Yasser Hassan, Director of ILO Türkiye, who served as panelists.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology Zekeriya Coştu, President of the Scientific & Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) Prof. Dr. Orhan Aydın, and Director of the Turkish National Agency İlker Astarcı participated in the panel titled "The Hidden Power of Development: Investing in Talent" which was moderated by Turkish Airlines Deputy General Manager Abdulkerim Çay. The panel "From Talent to Growth: The New Paradigm of Development" was moderated by Prof. Dr. Oğuz N. Babüroğlu, Chair of Sabancı University’s ARAMA Initiative. Prof. Dr. Fuat Erdal from Anadolu University, Prof. Dr. Seda Ertaç Güler from Koç University, and Dr. Güneş Arkadaş Aşık Erpek from TOBB University participated as panelists.
El Iza Mohamedou, Head of the OECD Center for Skills, made a presentation on "Skills for a Talent Based Development." Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rym Kaki, Director of the International Public Policy and Management Program, discussed “How to Better Position National Talent Development to Support Sustainable Development Goals”. Professor Hassan Akmal, Executive Director of the Career Center at the University of California, San Diego, presented on "Career Architect GPT: The AI Mosaic of Career & Life Design"
Additionally, students included in the “Outstanding Talent Pool” established under the Human Resources Office National Internship Program were invited to the Forum to strengthen their ties with the state, where a Master-Apprentice Dialogue was held with the participation of over 200 young people. The outcomes are expected to reinforce the talent management dimension of national development strategies and serve as a significant reference point in shaping future human-centered development policies.
Respectfully announced to the public.The 3rd Istanbul Human Resources Forum, organized by the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye Human Resources Office, took place on February 17, 2025, at the Istanbul Congress Center, under the theme of "Talent Based Development."
In line with the vision of positioning Türkiye as a talent hub in the new century, the Talent Based Development model, which places humans at the heart of development strategies, contributes to sustainable growth by aiming to discover the talents of individuals at an early stage and transform these talents into societal added value thanks to its inclusive approach.
Rather than defining development solely in terms of economic growth, the Forum adopted a human capital and talent management-oriented perspective. It provided a concrete framework on how human-centered development strategies can be integrated with sustainability and social equality goals.
The Forum has been organized twice before and has hosted more than 4,500 esteemed guests from 36 countries. This year, it brought together HR executives from the public and private sectors, academics, and representatives of international umbrella organizations such as CICA, ACD, SCO, D-8, BSEC, AU, OTS, OECD, ILO, and UNDP, welcoming over 1,200 participants from 20 countries.
The Forum’s opening speeches were delivered by Secretary General of CICA Kairat Sarybay, Secretary General of the Developing Eight Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8) Ambassador Isiaka Abdulkadir Imam, President of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye Human Resources Office Assoc. Prof. Dr. Salim Atay, and Minister of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Mehmet Fatih Kacir.
Atay: Employment in Türkiye Continued to Grow
Reminding that the Forum is being organized for the third time, Atay provided insights into past events and their content. He noted that Türkiye has faced significant challenges, including the devastating Kahramanmaraş earthquake and global economic downturns affecting inflation and interest rates, and stated:
"It's quite interesting that, during this period, Türkiye achieved a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) exceeding $1.3 trillion. This is an important matter that requires careful consideration. According to traditional economic theory, when inflation is high and interest rates rise, employment is expected to decrease. However, in Türkiye, employment has not dropped, and the country has continued to grow. When we explore the reason behind this, we uncover a crucial factor. We have data on 40 million employees across 120 different parameters. This is a big dataset. Through countless analyses conducted on this big data, we observe that despite the adversities of recent times—ranging from regional conflicts to political crises—Türkiye has maintained its course and demonstrated remarkable performance. The underlying reason for this success is the substantial investment in human capital over the past 22 years."
Providing participants with information about the factors that emerged from data analysis, Atay stated that increasing the number of educational institutions yielded significant results, that investment in people facilitated 2.9 times more development than investment in physical capital, and that this was the driving force of sustainability.
Emphasizing the importance of physical capital investment in economies, Atay remarked: "As many of you know, Türkiye is not a country rich in oil or natural gas resources. The level of development Türkiye has reached today is the result of the substantial investments made in human capital over the past 22 years."
Kacir: “We Always Put Our Human Resources at the Center of the Steps We Take for Türkiye”
Kacir, emphasizing that the foundations of economic and social development have been shaped by the prevailing dynamics of each era throughout history, stated, "The level of development of nations is now measured more by industrial production than by natural resources. However, with the initiation of the information age in the second half of the 20th century, knowledge, technology, and innovation, rather than physical assets, have moved to the center of economic power. Once based on agricultural production, industrial power, and natural resources, growth models have now shifted to a knowledge economy, innovation, and talent development. The reality of the new era is this: talent is the most valuable asset, and innovation is the locomotive of sustainable growth. Kacir underlined thatcountries recognizing human capital as their most valuable asset and prioritizing talent development as a strategic imperative will emerge as future leaders. He noted that Türkiye’s median age today is 34, making it significantly younger than many developed nations by 10-15 years. "We see this demographic advantage not merely as a statistic but as the strongest driving force behind our vision to elevate Türkiye beyond the level of contemporary civilizations," he added.
Minister Kacir emphasized that, in line with the National Technology Initiative, they have always placed human resources at the core of the steps taken for a stronger and more prosperous Türkiye. He stated that over the past 22 years, they have implemented a wide range of initiatives to enhance the quality of human resources, spanning from universities to technoparks, R&D centers to entrepreneurship support programs.
Kacir concluded, "By supporting qualified human resources, we have become a country capable of developing and producing its own training aircraft, helicopters, marine platforms, land vehicles, and satellites, and making significant breakthroughs."
Outputs from the Forum Will Guide Human-Centered Development Policies
At the Forum, which enables the sharing and development of human resources strategies successfully implemented at national and international levels, the programs carried out by international organizations in the fields of development and talent management were evaluated. Besides, the Forum, which shapes the global agenda, served as a platform for discussing the policy recommendations offered by international organizations.
During the Forum, a panel titled “Talent Based Development from the Employers' Perspective: The Case of Türkiye” was held under the moderation of Özgür Burak Akkol, President of the Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TISK). Canan Özsoy, Chairperson of AmCham Türkiye, Mahmut Asmalı, President of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (MÜSİAD), and Işıl Yalçın, Vice Chairperson of International Investors Association (YASED) participated in the panel.
The panel titled "Development from the Perspective of Umbrella Organizations," moderated by Prof. Dr. Kerem Alkin, included Achraf Bouali, Head of the OECD Istanbul Centre, Steliana Nedera, Director of the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub, and Yasser Hassan, Director of ILO Türkiye, who served as panelists.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology Zekeriya Coştu, President of the Scientific & Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) Prof. Dr. Orhan Aydın, and Director of the Turkish National Agency İlker Astarcı participated in the panel titled "The Hidden Power of Development: Investing in Talent" which was moderated by Turkish Airlines Deputy General Manager Abdulkerim Çay. The panel "From Talent to Growth: The New Paradigm of Development" was moderated by Prof. Dr. Oğuz N. Babüroğlu, Chair of Sabancı University’s ARAMA Initiative. Prof. Dr. Fuat Erdal from Anadolu University, Prof. Dr. Seda Ertaç Güler from Koç University, and Dr. Güneş Arkadaş Aşık Erpek from TOBB University participated as panelists.
El Iza Mohamedou, Head of the OECD Center for Skills, made a presentation on "Skills for a Talent Based Development." Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rym Kaki, Director of the International Public Policy and Management Program, discussed “How to Better Position National Talent Development to Support Sustainable Development Goals”. Professor Hassan Akmal, Executive Director of the Career Center at the University of California, San Diego, presented on "Career Architect GPT: The AI Mosaic of Career & Life Design"
Additionally, students included in the “Outstanding Talent Pool” established under the Human Resources Office National Internship Program were invited to the Forum to strengthen their ties with the state, where a Master-Apprentice Dialogue was held with the participation of over 200 young people. The outcomes are expected to reinforce the talent management dimension of national development strategies and serve as a significant reference point in shaping future human-centered development policies.
Respectfully announced to the public.