Sakarya TSO to Support Its Members’ Green Transformation Efforts

Akgün Altuğ, Chairman of the Sakarya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SATSO), stated that while producing, it is necessary to take into account not only companies’ own costs but also the uncertain global order the world is currently experiencing. Emphasizing that despite the prevailing political and economic conditions worldwide, the greatest strength of the business community is not losing hope while acknowledging challenges, Altuğ said:

Akgün Altuğ, President of Sakarya Chamber of Commerce and Industry

“In this period of increasing uncertainty, we must not give up on production and competition. However, I must clearly state that the conditions of competition have become more challenging,” Altuğ continued. “In particular, the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, implemented as of January 1, 2026 along with its financial obligations, has come into force. It is clear that this regulation will place significant pressure on our export costs. Nevertheless, we must view this process not only as a risk but also as an important opportunity for transformation. If we fulfill our obligations on time and correctly, our manufacturers’ competitiveness will be preserved and even strengthened in many areas. We must equip our factories with sustainable infrastructures and transform our production into a structure based on green energy, environmentally compatible, zero-waste oriented, and with a low carbon footprint. This transformation is now an unavoidable necessity for our future. Based on this necessity, within the scope of the EU-funded Greenshift Project that we prepared last year and qualified for support, we will establish a permanent center under SATSO to provide regulatory compliance support, technical guidance, and practical solutions to assist our members in their green transformation efforts. Of course, environmental sustainability alone is not sufficient. The fundamental element that will drive this process is technological depth and added value. The era of relying solely on traditional methods is now behind us.”

Sakarya Chamber of Commerce and Industry Assembly Meeting