Opening Ceremony of Istanbul 2023 Youth Capital of the Turkic World was held at Atatürk Cultural Center in Istanbul on 4 May 2023. The ceremony started with “Mehter” performance, followed by promotion video of Istanbul and folk dances.
The Opening Ceremony was attended by delegations headed by H.E. Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), H.E. Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu, Minister of Youth and Sports of Türkiye, H.E. Fikri Ataoğlu, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, H.E. Ali Yerlikaya, Governor of Istanbul, Ms. Indira Hajiyeva, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan, Mr. Marat Tagaev, Deputy Minister of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Alisher Sadullayev, First Deputy Minister of Youth Policy and Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Ms. Almira Nurlanova, Head of “Dream High Volunteers” English teaching volunteer club of Kazakhstan, as well as representatives of observer countries and volunteers.
Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliev, expressing his appreciation to the Turkish Government for hosting the event, congratulated the youth of the Turkic World on the occasion of launching Istanbul as a youth capital for 2023.
The Secretary General briefed that the OTS is conducting its activities in more than 20 spheres of cooperation and mentioned special importance of the interaction in the sphere of youth. He talked about prioritizing youth in development plans and involvement of youth in decision-making processes. In this context, he praised the organization of events such as Young Leaders Forums, Young Entrepreneurs Forum, International Youth Camps, University Sports Games and World Nomad Games.
Following opening speeches by the heads of delegation, Action Plan of Istanbul 2023 Youth Capital of Turkic World was signed.
After the Opening Ceremony, the Second Young Entrepreneurs Forum and the Fifth Young Leaders Forum to be held on 4 to 6 May 2023 started their work at Goztepe Youth Center in Istanbul with participation of the delegations.
