The capacity development program for personnel from the Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Cabo Verde, held from August 5-9, 2024, has been successfully completed with a series of training activities, field visits, and institutional visits. The program, conducted with the support of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), began with the participation of diplomats, military personnel and lawyers from said countries in the International Law of the Sea Summer Academy in İstanbul, organized in collaboration between DEHUKAM and Kadir Has University.

As part of the program, the delegation visited the Yeşilköy Fishing Port, hosted by the İstanbul Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Additionally, field visit to shipyards were conducted under the auspices of the General Directorate of Shipyards and Coastal Structures of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the Turkish Shipbuilders’ Association (GİSBİR). Following these visits, the delegation had the opportunity to examine vessel traffic stations (VTS) on-site, hosted by the General Directorate of Coastal Safety of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.

After the İstanbul segment of the program, the delegation continued their activities in Ankara, hosted by DEHUKAM. At DEHUKAM, Mr. Ferit Orçun Başaran, Deputy Director General for Northeastern Mediterranean at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered a presentation to the delegation on Türkiye’s prominent maritime outstanding maritime law issues. The delegation also visited TİKA, where they received detailed information about TİKA’s projects from Deputy President Dr. Rahman Nurdun. Furthermore, the delegation was hosted by the General Directorate of Shipyards and Coastal Structures under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, where they were briefed on Türkiye’s maritime activities. Lastly, the delegation was hosted by Mr. Turgay Türkyılmaz, Director General of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, where discussion on cooperation in fisheries between Türkiye and the respective countries were held.
The capacity development program concluded with a dinner hosted by DEHUKAM, attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of the Congo to Ankara.

We would like to extend our gratitude to all institutions, organizations, and delegation members who contributed to the successful organization of the program.