The key facts

  • Turkey's Trade Minister Ömer Bolat called for cooperation on critical minerals, clean technologies and green transition financing at COP31 in Antalya
  • Turkey is preparing the infrastructure for the pilot phase of a national emissions trading system; the OTS Antalya Ministerial Declaration was signed
  • OTS Secretary-General Mirvohid Azimov said trade among the organization's countries reached about $1 trillion by the end of 2025, and the Turkic Investment Fund ($600 million) has begun operating

Bolat at COP31: minerals, trade and financing

Turkey's Trade Minister Ömer Bolat spoke at a panel discussion organized by Turkey's Ministry of Trade and the World Trade Organization as part of the COP31 climate summit in Antalya. He stated that access to critical minerals has become an increasingly important element of international trade agreements, investment partnerships and industrial cooperation, and called for building diversified and reliable supply chains and facilitating trade in environmental goods and clean technologies.

Raw material dependence and financing shortfall

According to the minister, renewable energy technologies, batteries, electric vehicles and energy storage systems depend on critical raw materials, and growing demand exposes vulnerabilities in supply chains. He emphasized that regulatory cooperation and access to technologies are not sufficient on their own without investment — especially for developing economies and small businesses facing higher costs of capital. Bolat proposed that international financial institutions, governments and business jointly ensure affordable financing and technology transfer, and also noted the benefits of common standards and the digital recognition of emissions data, certificates and trade documents for reducing costs.

Turkic states and joint green projects

At the first ministerial council of the Organization of Turkic States on partnership in climate, innovation, the green economy and trade, Bolat declared Turkey's readiness to share its green transition experience. He said the country is developing the infrastructure for the pilot phase of a national emissions trading system, and that a green taxonomy facilitates access to financing. The minister called on the Turkic states to deepen cooperation in emissions monitoring, the carbon footprint of products, green certification and digital traceability, adding that the Turkic Investment Fund will support joint projects in renewable energy, energy efficiency and the green economy. The Antalya Ministerial Declaration was signed on Friday, aimed, in his words, at advancing practical implementation.

Scale of the organization

Secretary-General of the Organization of Turkic States Mirvohid Azimov said that trade turnover among member countries reached approximately $1 trillion by the end of 2025, and their combined population exceeds 170 million people. According to him, the Turkic Investment Fund, worth $600 million, has already begun supporting business, infrastructure, trade and investment.