International Symposium On Sustainable Logistics Successfully Held At Toros University

The “International Symposium on Sustainable Logistics Green Deal”, hosted by Toros University, was successfully completed after two days of intensive and productive sessions. The symposium, which took place on May 15-16, 2025, addressed current developments in Turkey and the world within the framework of sustainable logistics, climate change and the European Green Deal.

The first day of the symposium started with opening speeches and presentations by valuable keynote speakers. The speeches of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayhan Demirci, Head of the Department of International Trade and Logistics, Prof. Dr. Zafer Acar, Board Member of the Turkish Logistics Association (LODER), and Prof. Dr. Ömer Arıöz, Rector of Toros University, drew attention to the transformation of global trade with a sustainability perspective.

As part of the keynote speeches of the first day, Dr. Trang Tran from the University of Tokyo discussed the computational general equilibrium model and scenario-based trade forecasts that take into account the effects of global warming. Then, Prof. Dr. Emel Aktaş from Cranfield University evaluated green approaches in logistics with her presentation titled “On-Demand Tools for Sustainable E-Food Deliveries”. In the online and face-to-face sessions, 84 scientific studies prepared by over 180 researchers from 8 different countries were presented.

The second day of the symposium continued with face-to-face sessions on Friday, May 16 at the Bahçelievler Campus Conference Hall. Opening speeches were delivered by Prof. Dr. Köksal Hazır and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayhan Demirci from Toros University International Trade and Logistics Department. The speeches emphasized sustainable logistics, combating climate change and Turkey's obligations under the Green Deal.

The prominent event of the second day was the panel titled “Turkey's Framework for Compliance with the Green Deal”. In the panel moderated by Assoc. Prof. Ayhan Demirci, Selin Çobanoğlu Öz from the Ministry of Industry and Technology, Kadir Çirkin from the International Transporters Association (UND), Ekrem Ozan Bahçeci from the Ministry of Trade and Fevzi Filik from the Mersin Chamber of Commerce and Industry made important evaluations. The panel discussed Turkey's harmonization process in line with the European Green Deal, the transformation in the logistics sector, environmental responsibilities and digitalization.

The symposium, in which the participants actively took part in the question and answer sessions, served as an important international platform by preparing the ground for information and experience sharing in the field of sustainable logistics.