16.01.2026 00:40
In a statement to Haberler.com regarding the International Ayder Forum, Rize Governor İhsan Selim Baydaş noted that the forum was organized with the vision of making Ayder a center for diplomacy and global negotiations, stating that they aim for the forum to serve as an alternative platform to Davos from Turkey's perspective.
Ayder Plateau, a world-renowned tourism center in Rize, is hosting the 2nd International Ayder Forum this year.
Rize Governor İhsan Selim Baydaş evaluated the organization, where global energy policies, artificial intelligence technologies, and sustainable energy strategies were discussed, in an interview with Melis Yaşar from Haberler.com.
"AYDER SHOULD BE A PLACE WHERE ALTERNATIVE NEGOTIATIONS TO DAVOS ARE HELD"
Baydaş stated: "We are happily organizing the second Ayder Forum. Last year, our friends started planning an organization in Ayder, but as we expressed in the speeches today, I also mentioned. Our President had a vision for Ayder to be a center where international issues are discussed and negotiated. This was our intention at the beginning of the Ayder Forum. In other words, it should be a place that grows over time, where diplomatic negotiations take place, and where academics, politicians, and businesspeople come to express their ideas in the field determined by the topic. There are many famous places in the world in this regard. Davos is one of them. 'It should be a place where negotiations are held from our perspective, creating an alternative to it,' he said. This Ayder Forum is one of the strongest activities carried out to fulfill the essence of our President's words.
Last year, we held it on international logistics and transportation. We conducted it under the topic of transportation. This year, we are doing it under the topic of energy. It was announced again today. Next year, it will take place under the topic of health.
"WE WANT A STRONG VOICE TO RISE FROM RIZE, AYDER ON A TOPIC EVERY YEAR"
Of course, we are doing this by developing and renewing ourselves. Many countries, especially members of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Parliamentary Assembly, are among the partners of this organization. Representatives from many member countries' parliaments were here; there was participation at the level of deputy ministers and ministers. We want a strong voice to rise from Rize, Ayder on a topic every year while it is being negotiated. This outcome declaration will hopefully be read tomorrow evening. Texts reflecting that outcome declaration will also emerge.
We are very happy. It is a beautiful organization. There is a successful effort. There is high-level participation. Today, we held it with our Energy Minister and Health Minister from Turkey, as well as from guest countries. I express my happiness for it being a beautiful organization on behalf of our city, our country, our region, and for Rize and Ayder.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE FORUM TO THE BLACK SEA REGION AND RIZE
Governor Baydaş also evaluated the possible contributions of the forum to both the Black Sea Region and Rize: "Now, let me say this for the agenda. For example, the energy topic should be discussed regionally first. We are discussing the energy topic in the context of the Caucasus, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
Today, there were very special, more specific, and sub-topics in the sessions, for example, there was an energy session on artificial intelligence. Therefore, the result that comes out of this will lead to an exchange of ideas for both our country and the firms and academics operating in this field, and it will draw a future perspective.
Today, our Energy Minister opened another horizon. He mentioned that the Ayder Forums to be held tomorrow should also evolve into a business forum model where agreements are signed, and negotiations are held between companies or states. Therefore, we hope it will become a forum where more concrete outputs can be obtained.
From the perspective of our city, this is a congress tourism, a very special congress tourism activity. We are in January today. In January, we are hosting many guests from many places around the world in our city. We see contributions to the promotion of our city and families.