Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayors Serra Bucak and Doğan Hatun met with Humberto López, World Bank Country Director for Turkey, to discuss the city’s development projects.

Continuing their contacts in Ankara, Co-Mayors Bucak and Hatun held a meeting with Humberto López and his team.

The discussions comprehensively addressed financing and technical support opportunities in line with Diyarbakır’s development priorities. The meeting particularly focused on projects such as the improvement of urban infrastructure, disaster risk management, renewable energy investments and the modernisation of public transport systems. Financing options including long-term low-interest loans, flexible repayment terms and grant support were discussed.

In addition, the role of the World Bank’s technical assistance and advisory services in enhancing the municipality’s capacity was underlined.

Projects on the Agenda

During the meeting, the municipality’s more active participation in the ongoing projects that also cover Diyarbakır -the Municipal Services Improvement Project, the Türkiye Water Circularity and Efficiency Improvement Project, and the Türkiye Green Industry Project- was requested. In addition, steps were discussed to bring to the city programmes not yet implemented in Diyarbakır but planned for inclusion, such as the Climate and Disaster Resilient Cities Project, the Sustainable Cities Project II, and the Renewable Energy Project.

As a result of the meeting, it was agreed that financing processes would be carried out within the framework of the principles of transparency and accountability, and that strategic partnerships would be strengthened in order for Diyarbakır to play a more effective role in regional development.

The Co-Mayors were accompanied at the meeting by Chief Executive Emrullah Gördük, Murat Akbaş, Head of the Department of Studies and Projects, and Berçim Güzel, Head of the Department of Information Technology.