Mayor Eşki: “We are carrying Bornova into the future with the principle of thinking globally, acting locally”

Bornova Municipality participated in City Days held in its sister city Białystok from June 19-22, 2025, where it examined good practices in sustainability, energy transition, and cultural interaction on site. The Bornova delegation also held bilateral meetings with the city of Bochum, Germany, taking important steps to advance international cooperation. Mayor Ömer Eşki emphasized that such visits provide valuable contributions to Bornova’s vision.

Bornova Municipality took part in the Białystok City Days held in its sister city Białystok, Poland, from June 19-22, 2025. The visit aimed to strengthen cooperation between local governments, enhance cultural interaction, and observe good practices on site. Bornova Municipality was represented by Deputy Mayor Cem Arıkan, Acting Director of Cultural Affairs Yasin Barut, and Acting Director of Foreign Relations Erdem Muhtaroğlu.

On-site observation of energy transition and sustainability

During the visit, the Bornova delegation examined Białystok Municipality’s work on energy independence, eco-friendly transportation systems, and green space management. Recognized as one of Europe’s examples of sustainable urbanization, Białystok’s practices are set to inspire Bornova’s climate-friendly projects.

New cooperation prospects with Bochum

As part of the program, bilateral contacts were also established with Bochum, Germany. During the meetings between the delegations, consensus was reached on developing joint projects particularly in the fields of culture, youth exchanges, and energy efficiency.

Eşki: “International dialogue is the key to local development”

Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki evaluated the visits as follows:
“Sister city relations are not merely symbolic; they are partnerships that bring tangible benefits. Seeing successful initiatives on-site in Białystok — from sustainability and culture to energy and civic participation — was valuable for us. While we develop environmentally friendly, inclusive, and visionary projects in Bornova, we see such exchanges as guiding lights. Because we are aiming for a development model that starts locally and opens up to the world. The dialogue we initiated with Bochum is a concrete step towards strengthening Bornova’s local government network in Europe. We will continue building bridges for cooperation, knowledge sharing, and joint project development.”

A meeting of culture and friendship

Held every June, Białystok City Days celebrates the city’s historical and cultural identity with concerts, art exhibitions, open-air performances, and official receptions. This year’s events, held from June 20-22, brought together representatives of local governments from various countries, laying the groundwork for intercultural dialogue.

International experience will strengthen Bornova

Białystok, the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship, is a multicultural city with a population of about 300,000 and is known for its environmentally friendly policies. With such visits, Bornova Municipality aims not only to observe good practices but also to develop new collaborations that will contribute to Bornova’s development vision.