The 1st FSC Sustainable Forest Products Value Chain Meeting put export competitiveness, compliance capacity, and public-private sector cooperation on the agenda
Ankara, April 16, 2026 – FSC Türkiye brought together public institutions, exporters, manufacturers, certificate holders, sector representatives, and international stakeholders today in Ankara the “1st FSC Sustainable Forest Products Value Chain Meeting.”
The event, where the current requirements facing Türkiye’s forest products sector in global markets were discussed, brought market expectations, policy perspectives, and sector practices together on the same platform.
One of the key messages highlighted during the event was that public-private sector dialogue is of critical importance for a reliable and actionable transformation. Policy alignment, buyer expectations, sustainability requirements, traceability systems, and implementation experiences in export markets were comprehensively evaluated during the meeting.
FSC Türkiye National Representative Şükran Bayçura said: “Reliable systems, actionable tools, and strong public-sector cooperation are of critical importance for Turkish companies to sustain market access and competitiveness. As FSC, we see the sustainable management and certification of forests, which form the first link of the supply chain, as one of the fundamental elements of this transformation. FSC aims to contribute to a more resilient, transparent, and competitive export ecosystem in forest-based products. The framework we offer around traceability, risk mitigation, and market trust provides companies with a concrete and actionable roadmap. As discussed at this event today, the sector’s core goal should be to turn the obligation to comply with current international regulations into a competitive advantage.”
FSC Senior Director of Market and Markets Helen Chepkemoi Too said: “New regulations, especially the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), and changing buyer expectations are creating a new field of opportunity in the forest products value chain. Globally, buyers are transforming their supply processes, and companies that have invested to adapt to this transformation are moving ahead both in access to target markets and in resilience during fragile periods. I believe this meeting, where opportunities and practices for Turkish companies seeking to stand out in supplying the European target market were discussed, has offered new perspectives for participants.”
TOBB Board Member Saim Özakalın stated: “Today, the concept of sustainability is no longer a matter of choice, it has become one of the main determinants of global trade and competitiveness. Especially from the perspective of the forest products sector, sustainable production, traceability, and the ability to exist in international markets now stand out as fundamental prerequisites. In this respect, the ‘FSC Sustainable Forest Products Value Chain Meeting’ is an extremely important event for our sector. At a time when sustainability expectations in global markets are increasing and regulations such as the EUDR are on the agenda, it is of great value for all stakeholders to come together.”
As part of the program, public and private sector panels and thematic sessions focusing on sustainability, competitiveness dynamics, and buyer expectations were also held. These sessions addressed compliance processes, export competitiveness, and implementation experiences.
The event featured senior representatives as speakers from the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade, FSC Türkiye and FSC International, TOBB, as well as KASAD, YOMSAD, MOSFED, and Huhtamaki.