Gaziantep Model Proposed to Ease Business Access to Finance

The Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce hosted a meeting with Governor Kemal Çeber, Mayor Fatma Şahin, senior bank executives and hundreds of business representatives to discuss persistent difficulties in obtaining financing. Participants included the heads of Ziraat Bank, VakıfBank, Halkbank and Turkish Eximbank, who addressed credit costs, export financing and SME expectations.

The chamber’s board chair, Tuncay Yıldırım, introduced a pilot scheme called the “Gaziantep Model,” calling for early‑intervention credit restructuring tailored to each company’s needs. He likened timely credit support to giving a patient medicine before a condition becomes critical. Bank leaders pledged continued public‑bank support and highlighted a target of expanded financing assistance by 2026.

The proposal aims to strengthen the region’s competitiveness and could serve as a template for broader Turkish financial policy.