Purpose of the Study Visit

The TEBD II Study Visit to Gaziantep brought 13 representatives of EU Chambers for three days of knowledge exchange, networking and discussion on future cooperation, held in between 20 and 22 October 2026. Organised by Eurochambres, under the TEBD II project, and hosted by the Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce with the support of TOBB, the visit focused on how gastronomy and craftsmanship can support local economic development, skill development, sustainability and international trade.

Focus Areas and Programme Highlights

The programme combined institutional presentations, expert sessions, workshops and site visits, giving participants first-hand insights into Gaziantep’s economic and cultural ecosystem. Key highlights included:

• An overview of the TEBD II project and of Gaziantep’s economy, including the role of the Chamber in      supporting local businesses. In his welcome, Mr Yıldırım, President of the      Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce, stressed that when nurtured, cultural      heritage and gastronomy can become a force for development.

• Visits to heritage and craft venues,      including the Jale Tekinalp Yücel Culture and Arts Center (Mosaic School),      the Kayna Soap, Olive and Molasses Museum, the Emine Göğüş Culinary Museum      and the Zeugma Mosaic Museum. These illustrated how traditional know-how      is preserved and passed through training, educational programmes and knowledge      centres.

• A full day at the Gaziantep Gastronomy Academy, established by the Chamber, covering the Academy’s strategy,      local products and traditional cooking methods, Protected Geographical      Indications and “farm to fork” food ecosystems. Participants also followed      a live katmer demonstration, lunch at the Academy’s practising restaurant      Bulla, and a zero-waste cooking workshop preparing omaç, a traditional      dish made from leftover bread.

• Sessions on the organisation of the agri-food sector, presented by the Gaziantep Commodity Exchange, the Gaziantep      Chamber of Industry and the Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce, covering the      sector, the city’s industrial capacity, and EU and Turkish rules for food      trade.

• Guided tours of the Bey District and the Old Antep District, the craftmanship historical core of the      city, including the Copper Bazaar, the Almacı Spice Market, Zincirli Inn      and the historic Tahmis Coffee House.

Celebrating 30 Years of the Gaziantep EU Information Center

The visit concluded with a special celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Gaziantep EU Information Center, hosted by the Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce and supported by the EU Delegation to Türkiye. An art exhibition and a jazz concert at the Şehitkamil Art Center marked the occasion, highlighting the long-standing ties between Gaziantep and the European Union.

A Platform for Dialogue and Future Collaboration

By combining institutional dialogue, hands-on workshops, site visits and networking opportunities, the Study Visit to Gaziantep showed how culinary heritage and craftsmanship can be turned into strategies for training, sustainability and local development. It also served as a practical platform to turn shared knowledge into concrete cooperation, contributing to stronger EU–Türkiye business relations under the TEBD II framework.

Eurochambres would like to thank the Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce, TOBB, the Gaziantep Gastronomy Academy, the Gaziantep Commodity Exchange, the Gaziantep Chamber of Industry, and all speakers, chefs and participating chambers for their hospitality and engagement.