On the global stage, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) stand as a comprehensive framework established by the United Nations to address pressing global challenges and achieve a sustainable future for all. These goals encompass a wide range of objectives, including poverty eradication, environmental sustainability, gender equality, and access to quality education and healthcare. Adopted by all UN member states in 2015, the SDGs serve as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for present and future generations.
The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising member states such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan. Founded on the principles of solidarity, cooperation, and mutual respect, the OTS aims to enhance political, economic, and cultural ties among its member states. Through collaborative efforts, the OTS has become the flagship cooperation platform for the Turkic world.
The OTS builds on a set of values and political commitments that have established a solid institutional basis for a systematic approach to mutually beneficial commitment among its member states. From the promotion of economic cooperation and infrastructure development to the fostering of cultural exchange and education initiatives, the OTS has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to addressing key facets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development within its region.
The establishment of the Turkic Investment Fund and trade agreements serves as a linchpin for economic growth and poverty eradication, contributing to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Similarly, initiatives focused on enhancing educational opportunities, cultural exchanges, and youth cooperation resonate with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), fostering social inclusion and human capital development. The OTS places human and institutional capacity-building, experience-sharing, and the exchange of good practices at the core of its working mechanism across a wide range of areas, which serves to advance several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), among others.
Building upon these initiatives, stakeholders can further leverage the OTS's strategic interventions as catalysts for advancing progress towards the broader SDGs agenda within the Turkic region.
In this framework, the conference will seek to evaluate the current efforts and progress made by the Organization of Turkic States towards achieving the SDGs; identify key priority areas where the OTS can play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable development; facilitate discussions and partnerships among member states, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector to enhance collaboration towards the realization of SDGs within the Turkic region; and explore actionable policy recommendations and advocacy strategies to mobilize political will and resources in support of the OTS’s efforts to achieve the SDGs.
