In order to help companies be ready for human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD) legislation, the Responsible Business Helpdesk (RBH Türkiye) — established last year through a collaboration between TÜRKONFED and German agencies GIZ and BMZ — organized an event in Kocaeli. The event was opened by TÜRKONFED Vice Chairman Ramazan Kaya, who said that global sustainability policies are turning green transition from being merely an environmental responsibility to a central component of economic competitiveness. Atalay Kaya, President of DOĞUMARSİFED, said that companies’ compliance with sustainability principles not only increases their competitiveness but also raises Türkiye’s export potential.
Businesses in Kocaeli Received Training on Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence
March 25, 2025 / Kocaeli – The event in Kocaeli was held by the Responsible Business Helpdesk (RBH Türkiye), together with TÜRKONFED, GIZ, and with financial support from BMZ. Its purpose was to provide knowledge, consultancy, and training to businesses in the field of human rights and environmental due diligence. The event, hosted by the Eastern Marmara Industry and Business Federation (DOĞUMARSİFED), was attended by businesspeople and civil society organization representatives.
Ramazan Kaya: “Our companies can manage their expenses more efficiently and increase profitability”
In his opening speech, TÜRKONFED Vice Chairman Ramazan Kaya said that when compliance processes are managed in parallel with digital transformation, our production infrastructure and logistics advantages allow us to strengthen our place in world trade in a sustainable way. He added that in the current period of rewriting regional competitive conditions, increasing our exports to the EU, deepening trade with the U.S., and taking effective roles in Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa are all possible. Within their operations, companies may reduce energy, resources, and raw material costs; manage operational expenses more effectively; improve resource and production efficiency; and thereby increase profitability. Adapting to changing dynamics of global trade can give them competitive advantage in new markets. Furthermore, by focusing on fairness, transparency, and core human values, companies can play a triggering role in increasing welfare and quality of life as economic growth occurs in Türkiye. However, this transformation must include SMEs, which form the backbone of the economy. “Due to insufficient human capital and lack of reliable information, our SMEs are often left out of the topic. As TÜRKONFED, we established the Responsible Business Helpdesk to respond to this need.”
Atalay Kaya: “Aligning with sustainability increases competitive power”
Atalay Kaya said: “When our companies adapt to sustainability principles, not only will their competitiveness increase, but so will our country’s export potential. As DOĞUMARSİFED, we believe that for the economic development of our region, environmental and socially focused approaches must be fundamental. Through this event, we aim to share information that will help companies in our region that export to or wish to export to EU countries strengthen themselves in sustainability and supply chain management. I believe that these shared insights and dialogue opportunities will open horizons for all participants.”
Seminars and Panel Discussing Regulations and Best Practices
After the opening, RBH Türkiye Director Şeyda Dağlı Karadişoğulları provided participants with information about the support center and the training. Two seminars were held: “The Responsibility of Companies for Human Rights and Environmental Compliance in the Context of EU Corporate Sustainability Regulations” and “Creating a Roadmap for Compliance with EU Corporate Sustainability Regulations.” A panel was also organized, moderated by TÜRKONFED Board Member Fahri Örengül and featuring Meltem Çalışkan Arpaz, a Social Compliance Auditor from Aysim Textile. The panel topic was “Best Practice Examples for Sustainable Export.”
Low Rates of HREDD Implementation in Textile and Automotive
RBH Türkiye is a local support center that informs Turkish companies about the standards and obligations of human rights and environmental due diligence, raises awareness, offers recommendations, and connects companies with local experts and service providers. During its initial implementation period, the center focused on the automotive and textile sectors. In February, RBH Türkiye published the Responsible Business Conduct in Türkiye research report. According to the report, the rate of implementation of HREDD in the textile sector is 18%, while in automotive it is 6%.
You can access the Responsible Business Conduct in Türkiye report via the following link: