10 YEARS OF THE GAP REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

The Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) is the most comprehensive integrated regional project ever attempted in Turkey and in the world as well.

With GAP, mobilisation of the water and land resources of the region were planned through the perspective of multi-sectoral integrated regional development, and the "human being" was placed at the centre of the process of development.

The most important objective of the project is to eliminate disparities between the GAP region and other regions of the country. As such, the project will contribute to equality in development opportunities and also to the goals of steady economic growth, boosting of exports and social stability by materialising the development potential of the region.

Another significant and innovative feature of GAP is the institutional arrangement it brought along. The GAP Regional Development Administration was created on 6 November 1989 upon the Decree no. 388 in force of law. At present, it is the only organisation in Turkey mandated to carry out regional development efforts. The highest decision making body of the organisation is the GAP Higher Council. This Council is presided over by the Prime Minister and comprised of the State Ministers in charge of the State Planning Organisation and the Southeastern Anatolia Project, plus the Minister of Public Works and Settlement. The GAP Regional Development Administration is the executive organ of the organisation in charge of carrying out tasks related to the planning, monitoring and coordination of the Project. Furthermore, the GAP Coordination Council is composed of the representatives of all relevant organisations and agencies to ensure the synchronisation of multi-dimensional activities carried out under GAP. This institutional approach reflects a fully innovative one in terms of regional development efforts.

This year, the GAP Regional Development Administration left behind 10 years of service since its creation.

For 10 years, the Administration has successfully carried out an original and important task to ensure that the project is carried out jointly with the participation of the public and private sectors and people at large, which is so crucial in terms of establishing a sustainable path of development.

As an organisation which catalyses practices to materialise the human development philosophy of the project, the identity of the GAP Administration has been widely recognised within the last 10 years, and the Administration has become the first point of reference as far as the coordination of the activities of governmental and non-governmental organisations for sustainable development is concerned.

A delegation composed of the staff of the GAP Administration visited H.E. President Suleyman Demirel on 5 November 1999 on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the GAP Administration.

On the occasion of the 10^th anniversary of the establishment of GAP Administration a group of 17 composed of TEKFEN Karadeniz Soloists gave a concert on 07 November 1999 in Sanliurfa. The maestro was Prof.Saim Akcil and the event was organized with the Contribution of TEKFEN Holding Inc.

The GAP Administration organized a workshop, "Development Projects Based on Water Resources: International Experience", between 08 - 10 November 1999 in Sanliurfa with the participation of some governmental agencies, universities and representatives of some international organizations.

On the occasion of the 10^th year of the establishment of the GAP Administration, this workshop had the aim of sharing international experience in water based projects. As an organization representing a critical mission in the planning and coordination of the GAP, The administration thus had a chance to inform other participants about its experience in such projects.

Last Update : October 3^th, 2002