IKV has taken the decision to establish an FTA Information and Capacity-Building Center to monitor and analyze the growing number of FTAs, which  play an influencing role in the world trading system. The Center, which will be established within IKV, is supported by IKV’s founders and trustees, such as TOBB, ISO, ITO, TIM, as well as by DEIK and MUSIAD. FTA Information and Capacity-Building Center, to which representatives from these above mentioned institutions will contribute along with IKV's Researchers, aims not only to produce knowledge, analyze and conduct research on FTAs especially for the private sector but also aspires to better formulate opinions on the impacts of these agreements on the business community and on various sectors. In the first meeting, held on the 21st April 2014, the Head of Department of Service Trade Agreements of the Ministry of Economy Ayşe Figen Safalı and IKV Brussels Representative Haluk Nuray alternately gave presentations.

At the outset, IKV Board of Directors has taken the decision to establish a FTA Information and Capacity-Building Center, in the light of the latest developments within the world trading system. In that respect, this Center seeks to follow the developments on the new generation FTAs, especially on the ongoing negotiations between the EU and the USA for Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) in order to better inform and prepare the Turkish business community.

In her opening speech, IKV Secretary-General Assoc. Prof. Çiğdem Nas briefly informed the participants about the FTA Information and Capacity-Building Center project led by IKV. She stressed that FTA Information and Capacity-Building Center will serve as a platform that will bring Turkish business community together. This platform will also contribute to the strengthening of the cooperation among the participating institutions. In that respect,  the FTA Information and Capacity-Building Center aims to ensure the coordination of the works and research conducted in relation to FTAs with a special focus on TTIP. Assoc. Prof. Çiğdem Nas explained that IKV launched this project following a need to better understand how Turkey especially Turkish private sector would be affected from EU’s trade policy and the growing numbers of new generation FTAs in the world.

The Head of the Department of Trade in Services Agreements of the Ministry of Economy, Ayşe Figen Safalı gave a comprehensive presentation about the current situation in Turkey in the light of developments on the world trade in services and Turkey’s position in the negotiation process as well as the latest steps taken by Turkey. In her presentation, Ayşe Figen Safalı, firstly explained the aim of trade in services negotiations and the different definitions related to services. She then retraced the developments on the trade negotiation process of services within the framework of the world trading system. In this context, she referred to important developments such as the first multilateral agreement that has determined the international rules on trade in services, the so-called General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) in 1995 and the ongoing trade negotiations in services within the scope of the new generation of FTAs. Ayşe Figen Safalı also gave information on the ongoing process with the Trade in Service Agreement (TISA), in which Turkey takes part along with some other WTO Members and therefore she explained the importance to follow up closely this process. Lastly, Ayşe Figen Safalı emphasized that it was essential to strengthen Turkey’s negotiation position in those agreements by improving the coordination among public institutions;  better informing the private sectors about these processes; overcoming the lack in legislation; increasing the statistics for trade in services and by improving the transparency.

In his presentation, IKV Brussels Representative Haluk Nuray informed the participants about various works and research conducted in these areas and the works foreseen within the FTA Information and Capacity-Building Center.