Fatouma Bourguiba University Hospital, located in the city of Monastir, is a major healthcare center nationwide with its Pediatric Surgery Department performing surgical interventions on approximately 4,000 children annually.
Serving not only patients from Monastir but also pediatric patients from different regions of Tunisia, the hospital previously faced a serious risk due to the absence of a pediatric recovery room where children could be safely monitored after surgery.
In response to this need, a pediatric recovery room meeting international standards was established within the framework of a request submitted by the hospital. The newly established unit has been equipped with pediatric ventilators, multi-parameter monitors, infusion pumps, child-specific resuscitation beds, and the necessary anesthesia equipment.
Through this project, which is expected to directly benefit at least 1,000 children annually, it is aimed to enhance the safety of critically ill pediatric patients and minimize the risks of complications and mortality. The project also includes training programs for healthcare personnel on post-operative pediatric monitoring and emergency intervention protocols, thereby strengthening human resource capacity.
Through this project that directly touches the lives of pediatric patients, TİKA continues to strengthen Tunisia’s healthcare infrastructure.
A handover ceremony for barista and coffee business vocational training equipment was held at the International Institute for Skill Development (IISD) in Chiang Rai, Thailand, located near the borders of Laos and Myanmar. The event was organized as part of the bilateral cooperation project between TİKA (Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency) and the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA).
During the ceremony, Institute Director Jaturapat Ngenmool addressed the participants, expressing his gratitude for the valuable support provided by the Turkish government. Ngenmool stated, “Today, with the support of TİKA, we are receiving crucial equipment for our barista and coffee business training programs. These tools will enhance our training capacity and help us offer more effective and practical training experiences to our participants.” He emphasized that the equipment provided by TİKA supports coffee production and skills development in the sector, as well as improving the quality of training. Ngenmool also noted that the project aims to create more employment opportunities and encourage entrepreneurship in Thailand’s coffee sector. He concluded his remarks by saying, “We sincerely thank TİKA and the Turkish government for this meaningful support. These contributions will open doors to better education opportunities and brighter futures for many people.”
The equipment handed over includes espresso machines, coffee grinders, barista tool sets, a television, and coffee counters, all of which will be used in the Institute’s training programs.
Growing Educational Opportunities in the Coffee Sector Through TİKA and TICA Cooperation
By 2025, the Institute has provided training to more than 80 participants through Barista and Latte Art Training Courses and Coffee Business Management courses. These courses have addressed a wide range of participants, including trainers, entrepreneurs, individuals with hearing disabilities, and unemployed workers.
In 2026, the Institute plans to expand its training programs to five courses, reaching 100 participants. The goal is to provide comprehensive training in the barista and coffee sectors. During this new phase, the Institute aims to continue training qualified professionals for both Thailand’s local coffee industry and the global market.
Project Objectives Supported by TİKA
The main objectives of this project include developing skills in coffee production, increasing employment opportunities in the coffee sector, and strengthening career prospects. Additionally, it aims to enhance knowledge and understanding of coffee, while promoting international competencies in the industry.
Such projects in the coffee sector aim not only to support workforce development in Thailand, but also to foster growth in ASEAN countries, the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), and the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) regions.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) provided support to improving health services in Zambia by renovating “University Teaching Hospital”(UTH)’s kitchen.
With this project, conducted in partnership with Turkish Embassy in Lusaka and Zero Waste Foundation as the local partner, inadequate kitchen equipments have been renewed. Many hospitalized patients who needed regular meals for recovery and for their medication had access to hospital food only once a day. Now, with the new industrial cooking equipment, meals will be prepared more frequently and in more hygenic conditions which will contribute to the patients’ treatment process.
The hand-over ceremony of the project took place last week with the attendance of Turkish Ambassador to Zambia Hüseyin Barbaros DİCLE and Zambian Minister of Health Hon. Elijah Muchima.
It was noted that, thanks to the project, the Hospital’s capacity has been increased to serve better to thousands of patients coming from all over the country.
The classroom of the Physiotherapy Department for Visually Impaired Students at the Higher School of Health Sciences and Techniques of Tunis (École Supérieure des Sciences et Techniques de la Santé de Tunis – ESSTST), affiliated with the University of El Manar in the capital city of Tunisia, has been renovated and equipped by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA).
Within the scope of the project, the classroom belonging to the Physiotherapy Department for Visually Impaired Students – the first academic unit of its kind established in Africa – was renovated and reorganized in line with modern educational standards. The classroom was designed to be fully accessible for visually impaired students and furnished with essential physiotherapy training equipment. The project provided materials such as human skeleton and muscular system models, posture analysis tools, exercise bands and straps, physiotherapy tables, hot and cold therapy equipment, electrotherapy devices, and Braille reading and writing devices.
Established in 1965, ESSTST is one of Tunisia’s leading institutions in the field of public health, contributing significantly to the training of professional healthcare personnel. Since its establishment, the Physiotherapy Department for Visually Impaired Students has graduated a total of 743 students with varying degrees of visual impairment from Tunisia, other African countries, and the Middle East.
Thanks to the newly equipped classroom, approximately 50 students will benefit from hands-on training with modern tools each year, aiming to enhance their professional competencies and employability. The project promotes equal opportunities for disadvantaged groups and supports the social and economic inclusion of visually impaired youth.
TİKA continues to contribute to local development in Tunisia through projects aimed at strengthening inclusiveness in education, supporting youth employability, and empowering disadvantaged groups in line with the country’s development priorities.
As part of the Türkiye–Pakistan Cultural Week (28–31 October) celebrated under thepatronage of Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif to mark the 102nd anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye, a Letter of Intentwas signed between the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and the Directorate General of Archaeology, Department of Tourism, Archaeology & Museums of the Government of Punjabfor the rehabilitation of the Javed Manzil / Allama Muhammad Iqbal Museum in Lahore.
Commissioned by Pakistan’s national poet and philosopher Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Javed Manzil is the house where he lived and passed away, later converted into a museum in his memory. The rehabilitation of this historic site will be implemented by TİKA, with completion expected by 2027 — the 150th birth anniversary of Allama Iqbal.
This project aims to preserve and promote the cultural and intellectual legacy of Allama Iqbal, who is revered in both Türkiye and Pakistan, while also serving as a lasting symbol of the enduring friendship between the two brotherly nations.
A “Computer-Aided Textile Design (CAD) Laboratory Establishment Project” has been implemented by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) in Kelibia, Nabeul Governorate, to enhance vocational training capacities and support the development of a skilled workforce for Tunisia’s textile and garment industry.
Within the scope of the project, a modern Computer-Aided Design (CAD) laboratory was established at the Kelibia Vocational Training Center, which operates under the Tunisian Vocational Training Agency (ATFP). The laboratory has been equipped with high-performance computers, advanced design devices, and professional design software widely used in the textile industry.
Through this facility, students will gain the ability to design garments digitally, test prototypes in virtual environments, and reduce production errors before manufacturing. The project will thus improve the employability of graduates while enabling local textile companies to access qualified personnel trained in modern production techniques.
The textile and apparel sector in Tunisia accounts for approximately 30% of the country’s total industrial exports and provides direct employment to more than 160,000 people through over 1,600 companies. The sector remains one of Tunisia’s key strategic industries and a major contributor to its economy.
By supporting this initiative, TİKA contributes to the modernization of the Tunisian textile sector and the alignment of vocational training with the needs of the labor market. The project also complements Tunisia’s national policies aimed at reducing youth unemployment and strengthening vocational education.
TİKA continues to support local development in Tunisia through projects that enhance vocational education quality, promote youth employment, and foster digital transformation across industrial sectors.
A project aimed at promoting qualified beekeeping was launched in Tunisia to provide a sustainable source of income for women, persons with disabilities, and unemployed youth.
Within the scope of the project, 20 members of a local cooperative—composed predominantly of women—received donations of modern beekeeping equipment, including beehives, production and extraction tools, and packaging materials. In addition, both theoretical and practical training sessions on honey production were provided to strengthen the members’ technical capacity.
In Tunisia, the lack of knowledge regarding the nutritional value and authenticity of locally produced honey limits its market potential and increases demand for imported alternatives. In response to this, the cooperative has been implementing a model project in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fisheries of Tunisia and the National Institute for Research and Physico-Chemical Analysis (INRAP), aiming to analyze and certify the nutritional content and authenticity of the honey produced. This analysis and certification process not only enhances consumer confidence in local honey but also sets an example for other local producers.
Through the establishment of a packaging and sales unit within the cooperative, the project aims to bring certified and nutritionally analyzed honey to market with greater added value. In addition to strengthening the economic participation of women, youth, and persons with special needs, the project is also expected to contribute to the wider adoption of qualified and professional honey production in the country.
TİKA continues to support the active participation of vulnerable groups in economic life through projects that prioritize local development and promote sustainable production.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has renovated the health center at the Teresa Carreño Theater in Venezuela as part of its Program for the Development of Health Services and Infrastructure in South America.
TİKA has renovated and reopened the health center on the Teresa Carreño Theater campus in Caracas, Venezuela, the second-largest cultural complex in Latin America.
The fully renovated center, equipped with modern medical equipment, serves theater workers and their families, as well as audiences attending events. Serving approximately 300 employees, the center’s contemporary design and new medical equipment have raised healthcare standards and enabled effective emergency response.
The two renovated areas have been outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment, along with upgraded painting, air conditioning and lighting systems. Additionally, the center now offers physiotherapy, internal medicine, gynecology, ultrasonography, occupational medicine, nutrition and dietetics, psychology and traumatology services.
The opening ceremony was attended by Turkish Ambassador to Caracas, Naci Aydan Karamanoğlu; President of the Teatro Teresa Carreño Foundation, Gustavo Arreaza; Theater Director General, Irvin Peña; Embassy staff and health center personnel.
In his speech, Ambassador Karamanoğlu stated that TİKA has completed more than 30 projects across Venezuela in the fields of culture, health, education and social services, seven of which are in the health sector. Emphasizing the symbolic value of the project in integrating culture and health, he said, “It is an honor for us to contribute to the lives of the artists, directors and their families at the Teresa Carreño Theater, the second-largest cultural complex in Latin America.”
In his speech, Arreaza, President of the Teatro Teresa Carreño Foundation, expressed gratitude for the ongoing support from Türkiye, stating, “As Chávez also noted, culture is one of the most important elements that enables the transformation and development of societies. This contribution from Türkiye is very meaningful to us.”
The project was implemented as part of TİKA’s Health Services and Infrastructure Development Program in South America. This program directly contributes to the “Health and Quality of Life” goal of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, supporting the development strategies of countries in the region and providing improved healthcare standards to thousands of people each year.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) organized a cultural tour to Türkiye for 50 students of Turkish and Tatar descent who won a quiz competition in Constanța, Romania.
The students, who excelled in the “Turkish Language Knowledge”, “History and Traditions of the Turks in Romania”, “Islam”, and “My Beautiful Language Turkish” competitions, coordinated by the Constanța Provincial Education Inspectorate of the Romanian Ministry of Education, visited Türkiye as part of the “Dobruja-Türkiye Heart Bridge” project.
During the five-day program in Istanbul and Ankara, the students visited cultural sites such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Mosque, the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, the Basilica Cistern, the Istanbul Archaeological Museum, the Rami Library, Miniatürk, Taksim Square, Istiklal Avenue, the Cinema Museum and the Galata Tower. They also stayed at the Adile Sultan Pavilion, where the film Hababam Sınıfı (The Chaos Class) was filmed.
In Ankara, the students visited Anıtkabir and the TİKA headquarters, where they met with TİKA’s President Abdullah Eren. They also participated in horseback riding and archery activities at the Traditional Sports Club and had the opportunity to learn more about Turkish culture.
After the invitation, TİKA President Abdullah Eren shared on social media: “The determination, effort and success of our young people in these competitions illuminate not only the present but also the future of our culture. We’re so glad you came, young people; TİKA is always with you.”
The knowledge competitions, organized annually under the coordination of the Constanța Provincial Education Inspectorate, encourage young people of Turkish and Tatar descent to learn about their language, religion and culture. Successful students receive scholarships from the Romanian Ministry of Education and awards from the Romanian Democratic Turkish Union and TİKA. This year, TİKA awarded tablet computers to 32 students who won first place in the four competition categories.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) renovated the Diplomatic Academy building of the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Ecuador.
The building, notable for its neo-colonial architecture and built in the 1940s, was once the residence of Galo Plaza Lasso, a former president of Ecuador, and was later converted into a diplomatic training center. As part of the project carried out by TİKA, the academy’s historic building was renovated. The interior spaces, previously used by Ecuadorian diplomats as auditoriums, libraries and classrooms, were completely refurbished and made available to the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The historic building, which served as the residence of Galo Plaza Lasso, the President of Ecuador, when diplomatic relations were established in 1950, was re-inaugurated in a ceremony attended by M. Başak Yalçın, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Quito and Gabriela Sommerfeld, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador.
The project’s opening ceremony was the first in a series of celebratory events planned in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Speaking at the opening, Ambassador Alejandro Suárez, Director of the Ecuadorian Diplomatic Academy, stated that this renovation, carried out with the support of TİKA, symbolizes the friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Suárez thanked the Turkish government, the Turkish Embassy in Quito and TİKA, emphasizing that the renovated space will make a significant contribution to the training of young diplomats.
“A gift from Turkish diplomacy to Ecuadorian diplomacy”
Speaking at the ceremony, Turkish Ambassador to Quito M. Başak Yalçın expressed her honor at celebrating such a meaningful anniversary in this historic building, the year diplomatic relations were established in 1950. She emphasized that this project, implemented with TİKA’s world-renowned technical expertise and generous financial contribution, is not only a development cooperation initiative but also a gift from Turkish diplomacy to the Ecuadorian diplomatic community.
Ambassador Yalçın also highlighted the cultural and diplomatic significance of the 75th-anniversary commemorative hand-painted İznik tile plaque placed on the building’s façade, as well as the tile works featuring çintemani and lalezar motifs displayed in the main hall, presented to the academy by TİKA as a reflection of Turkish culture.
In her speech, Yalçın further stated that the Diplomacy Academies Memorandum of Understanding, signed in 2022, will be advanced through an online training program to be held in October for young diplomats from both countries.
“The heart of the academy has been renewed, and our relations are deepening”
Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld expressed her great pleasure in celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Türkiye in such a meaningful way. Describing the Diplomatic Academy as the heart of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sommerfeld noted that young diplomats will benefit from these new spaces and expressed her gratitude to TİKA and the Turkish government.
Following the ceremony, Minister Sommerfeld and the Ambassador toured the renovated areas. Sommerfeld, noting that she was familiar with the building’s previous condition, stated that the extensive renovations have completely transformed the Diplomatic Academy’s appearance, and that not only new diplomats but also various departments across the Ministry will benefit from these modern spaces.
Cultural and institutional impact
Thanks to the restoration work carried out as part of the project, the Diplomatic Academy has not only been physically renovated but also created a platform for cultural interaction, featuring works of Turkish handicrafts such as İznik tiles.
Turkish coffee and traditional sweets were served to guests at a reception following the opening. Additionally, souvenir envelopes bearing the logo, specially printed by PTT to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Türkiye-Ecuador diplomatic relations, were launched and distributed to attendees.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has illuminated the square and main roads of Tıllıf Turkmen, a village in Syria, with solar-powered lamps.
TİKA installed 220 solar-powered lighting fixtures in the village square and along the main roads of Tıllıf Turkmen, in Hama province, to help strengthen local infrastructure.
Due to Syria’s 14-year civil war and limited investment, the country’s electricity supply has become inadequate to meet demand. Power is often available only sporadically and for short periods of time. This has created serious challenges for Tıllıf Turkmen, where post-war repatriation has been accelerating.
The village’s population, which had declined to 5,000 before the war, has now risen to 13,000 with the return of displaced residents. It is projected to reach 20,000 in the near future. However, despite this rapid growth, the lack of street lighting has posed significant security risks at night.
The solar-powered lighting system provided by TİKA has improved living conditions in the village and created a safer environment for residents after dark.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has provided equipment to the microbiology laboratory of the Beekeeping Research and Development Institute, affiliated with the Romanian Beekeepers Association, which represents more than 10,000 beekeepers across Romania.
The institute conducts scientific research on beekeeping in Romania, facilitates beekeepers’ access to advanced technologies, provides certification services for product marketing, and promotes good beekeeping practices.
With the modern laboratory equipment supplied by TİKA, the laboratory’s analysis capacity has been significantly enhanced. This upgrade enables research in various areas, including bee genetics and breeding, bee diseases, the chemistry and technology of bee products and apitherapy.
The support aims to diagnose and prevent diseases that negatively affect beekeeping, promote healthy practices and contribute to the sustainable development of the sector.
Operating since 1974, the institute has supported the industry through research, testing and technical assistance for beekeepers. In the coming period, training programs for beekeepers and the provision of beekeeping equipment are also planned within the framework of the collaboration between TİKA and the Romanian Beekeepers Association.
