The “Foreign Trade and Customs Summit,” organized in collaboration with the Beykoz Logistics Vocational School Foreign Trade Program, the Foreign Trade Leaders Association (DIŞYÖNDER), and the Istanbul Customs Brokers Association (İGMD), was held on April 27, 2026, at the Kavacık Schools of Higher Education Campus Conference Hall with strong participation. Bringing together leading representatives of the sector with students, the summit comprehensively addressed current developments in the fields of foreign trade and customs.
The opening speeches of the summit were delivered by Engin Özmen, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Beykoz University, and Dr. Hakan Çınar, Chairman of the Board of DIŞYÖNDER.
The program, held in three sessions throughout the day, covered a wide range of topics, from foreign trade policies to digitalization, and from operational processes to human resources in the sector.
The first session focused on “Current Developments in Foreign Trade and Customs Policies and Turkey’s Position.” The session featured speakers Umut Rallas and Cem Özvardar, Members of the Board of DIŞYÖNDER, and Hüseyin Coşar, Customs Broker and Head of the İGMD Training Committee. The session was moderated by Mustafa Sezen, Customs Broker and Vice President of İGMD. Discussions centered on global trade dynamics and Turkey’s strategic position within this context.
The second session addressed “Digitalization in Trade Processes and Operational Efficiency.” Speakers included Abdurrahman Özalp and Burak Ergen, Members of the Board of DIŞYÖNDER, and Serkan Aslan, Customs Broker and Member of the İGMD Training Committee. The session was moderated by Çiğdem Pıtırlıoğlu, Member of the Board of DIŞYÖNDER. Speakers shared insights on the impact of digital transformation on foreign trade operations and new efficiency-oriented approaches.
The final session of the day focused on “Human Resources in the Trade Ecosystem, Institutional Capacity, and Professional Transformation.” The session featured Dr. Ayşegül Ketenci, Member of the Board of DIŞYÖNDER; Dr. Nesli Çankırı Kıran, Director of Beykoz University Beykoz Logistics Vocational School; and Aydın Özbakır, Customs Broker and Treasurer of İGMD. The session was moderated by Dr. Başak Kuru, Deputy Director of Beykoz Logistics Vocational School at Beykoz University. Key discussions included required competencies in the sector, professional transformation processes, and career opportunities.
Enriched by the contributions of DIŞYÖNDER and İGMD representatives, the summit provided students with the opportunity to engage directly with industry professionals. Participants gained a comprehensive perspective on foreign trade and customs processes by benefiting from the experiences of experts in the field.
The “Foreign Trade and Customs Summit” was successfully completed as a significant event that strengthened university-industry collaboration and contributed to the professional development of students.
This content was updated on 28/04/2026.