"Call for Urban Transformation from Erdoğan Bayraktar"

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Former Minister of Environment, Urban Planning and Climate Change Erdoğan Bayraktar made statements regarding urban transformation at a program organized by the Anatolian Side Construction Contractors Association (AYİDER).

Bayraktar stated that Turkey's primary issue is the Southeast problem, the second issue is moral erosion, and the third issue is urban transformation. He drew attention to the fact that 50,000 people lost their lives in 11 provinces during the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, saying, "God willing, it won't happen from today to tomorrow; the probability of this and the fault lines are under the authority of geological engineers, but the location of buildings that should not be damaged in an earthquake is the job of civil engineers and contractors."

"URBAN TRANSFORMATION SHOULD BE A STEP TOWARDS SAVING LIVES"

Bayraktar, who is also a civil engineer and urban transformation expert, continued his remarks: "When we look at the environmental meaning of urban transformation, it is about renewing cities and building better structures. No, friends, that is not Turkey's problem today. Today, the main axis of urban transformation should be expressed in accordance with the spirit of Law No. 6306, as a means to save lives. I kindly ask my colleagues here, urban transformation in Turkey should be a step towards saving lives. Demolishing buildings and constructing them is a later task. Now, our mayors have a great responsibility during this period, with 26 districts and one metropolitan municipality being CHP's."

SHE SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Bayraktar stated in a post on his social media account regarding his speech, "How will those responsible for urban transformation escape from this great burden?"

WHO IS ERDOĞAN BAYRAKTAR?

He was born in the Of district of Trabzon. After graduating from the Istanbul State Academy of Architecture and Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, he received a Master's degree in 'Alternative Settlement Sciences in Metropolitan Cities' from the Institute of Science at Istanbul University. He prepared a thesis on construction contracts at Bucharest University and graduated with honors.

Between 1973 and 1994, he worked for 21 years in the private sector as a contractor and manager of a housing cooperative. During his military service, he served as a construction control officer for 14 months.

From 1989 to 1999, he served as a member of the Municipal Council in Istanbul Metropolitan and Eminönü Municipalities; additionally, he held the position of General Manager at KİPTAŞ of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality for 4.5 years between 1995 and 1999.

Between 1999 and 2000, he received training in Foreign Language and Construction Technologies in the USA for 10 months. He participated in training and seminars on housing, business, cooperatives, and real estate systems in various countries in Europe. From 2000 to 2001, he served as General Manager at Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Metropol İmar A.Ş.

Between December 2002 and March 2011, he served as the President of the Prime Ministry Housing Development Administration (TOKİ) and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Emlak Konut Real Estate Investment Trust. During this period;

- Housing projects consisting of a total of 500,000 residences and social facilities were initiated in 81 provinces, 800 districts, and 1,900 construction sites, and approximately 350,000 of these projects have been completed.

- He received a royal medal from the Spanish Royal Family for "Housing Production for Low-Income Groups."

- He received awards from leading real estate organizations such as Barcelona Meeting Point (BMP) and EIRE (Italy, Milan Real Estate Organization) for "Housing Provision for Low-Income Groups" and "Entrepreneurship and Real Estate Development."

In 2006, he published books titled "Slums and Urban Renewal," in 2007 "Housing as a Human Right," and in 2013 "Transformation of Cities."

In addition to participating in numerous national and international conferences, he has given lectures and seminars at universities on urban planning, real estate development and financing, the construction sector, housing policies, and TOKİ applications.

He has been awarded honorary doctorates by various universities, including Gazi University for "his accumulation in the field of mass housing, his work on housing production, and his efforts in slum prevention, urban development, and renewal"; Kocaeli University for "his contributions to preventing slum formation and urban transformation applications"; and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Foundation University for "his outstanding work in the field of the importance of slum formation, renewal, and transformation," as well as for his activities in "the transformation of areas at risk of disasters and the production of environmentally sensitive housing against earthquakes" in May 2013 by Karadeniz Technical University.

Erdoğan Bayraktar is married and has 5 children.