Ambassador Kubaniçbek Ömuraliyev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkish States (TDT), wrote for AA Analysis about the developing vision of TDT during his duty as Secretary General and the importance of turning common goals into concrete opportunities in the coming period.
There are such turning points in the history of nations and states that the common past is no longer a legacy that lives only in memories; It becomes a power that directs the future and shapes the future. I believe that the Turkish world is going through exactly such a historical turning point today.
Spreading over a vast geography connecting the East and the West, the Turkish world brings together approximately 180 million people who are interconnected with strong cultural and historical ties that extend deep into history. These ancient ties are getting stronger day by day in a wide range of areas ranging from trade to transportation, from investments to education, from technology to inter-societal relations.
The spirit of brotherhood, sustained by our common language, culture, traditions and collective memory for centuries, is today transforming into a corporate identity, concrete cooperation and a common will for the future under the umbrella of the Organization of Turkish States (TDT).
This transformation is undoubtedly a remarkable development story. Since its establishment in 2009, our Organization has evolved from a platform shaped primarily on the basis of political dialogue and cultural rapprochement to a multi-dimensional, comprehensive international cooperation structure that produces increasingly concrete results.
As I approach the end of my term as Secretary General, I do not see this period as just an opportunity to take stock of the years we have left behind. What is more important to me is to think about the values that make our unity unique, to evaluate what our cooperation can bring to our people, and to seek answers together to the question of what kind of Turkish world we want to leave to future generations.
A union with roots deep in history
There is an exceptional feature that distinguishes the Organization of Turkish States from other international organizations. International organizations are often established to solve a specific political issue, meet an economic need or address a common security concern. The foundation of the Organization of Turkish States lies in a much deeper and deeper bond than these. Our unity blossomed centuries before the establishment of our Organization; It is nourished by our common history, the kinship of our languages, our cultural heritage, our common values and the strong sense of belonging that comes from belonging to the same civilization basin.
Our common history, language, identity and culture are not just values that remind us of our past. These are the unshakable foundations on which mutual trust flourishes, lasting friendships take root and a strong future can be built. There are very few international organizations in the world that have such a natural and deep-rooted basis of unity. However, the richness of the historical heritage alone is not a guarantee of a common future. The historical responsibility that falls on our generation is to transform this closeness that has filtered through centuries into opportunities, strong connections and concrete collaborations that respond to the needs and challenges of the 21st century.
We have a saying that expresses this understanding in all its simplicity and depth: "We are stronger together." This saying, which can be understood all over the Turkish world without the need for translation, is one of the most beautiful manifestations of the deep-rooted unity of language and heart between our peoples. Today, the saying "We are stronger together" is not just an expression expressing our brotherhood and solidarity; It is a fundamental principle that gives direction to our common will and transforms our cooperation into concrete steps.
From common identity to corporate power
One of the most important advances we have made in recent years is the transformation of this natural closeness between our people into a strong and permanent institutional cooperation capacity. Today, the Organization of Turkic States carries the joint work between its member states forward every day. Our organization currently has 65 cooperation mechanisms operating in many fields, from economy to trade, from transportation to customs, from energy to digitalization, from industry to science and technology, from health to education, from youth to agriculture, from working life to social protection, from intellectual property to space studies.
The fact that 32 new mechanisms have been established since 2023 alone represents a development equivalent to the total of the mechanisms established until the end of 2022. This picture shows that not only our cooperation agenda is expanding, but also the determination of our member and observer states to transform common priorities into concrete institutional structures is gradually strengthening.
However, what is more meaningful than the numbers is the radical change in our understanding of working together. Our political consultations have become more regular and comprehensive, contacts between our ministries and specialized institutions have intensified; Our ability to think together, plan together and act together has improved day by day. I can summarize this stage that our organization has reached today with three concepts: Implementation, transformation and institutional deepening.
As the Chairman of the Coordination Committee of Turkish Cooperation Organizations, TDT carries out a close and systematic cooperation with relevant and affiliated organizations, especially the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkish States (TURKPA), the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), the Turkish Academy, the Turkish Culture and Heritage Foundation, the Turkish Investment Fund and the Union of Turkish Chambers of Commerce and Industry. With their complementary activities, these institutions contribute to the development of a multidimensional working architecture in the Turkish world, the strengthening of our institutional ties and the realization of our common goals.
The establishment and launch of the Turkish Investment Fund is one of the most important milestones of this institutional development. For the first time, Turkish states established a joint financial institution in order to mobilize their common economic potential, support investments and entrepreneurship, strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises and pave the way for joint projects. Initiatives such as the Central (National) Banks Council, the Turkish Green Finance Council and the Turkish Investment Promotion Network (TurkIPAnet) further strengthen this emerging common finance and investment architecture.
However, one of the developments that pleased me the most during my term of office was that our cooperation was not limited to government institutions and official mechanisms but expanded to the private sector, professional organizations and different segments of society. Notaries, auditors, engineers, unions and representatives of various professional groups establish new contacts, create professional networks and develop institutional cooperation opportunities under the umbrella of the Turkish world. Initiatives such as TDT International Road Transport Association, Turkish Ski Resorts Association and Turkish Red Crescent Network constitute concrete examples of this development in different areas from transportation to tourism, from humanitarian aid to social solidarity.
Our business world, universities, young people, experts and professional organizations are now discovering their own needs, their own opportunities and their own ways to meet each other. When people and professional communities begin to form ties of their own volition, collaboration transcends the boundaries of institutions; It penetrates the lives of societies, takes root and gains its own dynamism. In my opinion, this is one of the strongest indicators of the maturity reached by cooperation in the Turkish world.
An emerging area of economic and strategic power
The increasing importance of the Turkish world stems from our common history and cultural heritage, as well as from the enormous economic and strategic potential we have. According to the data announced as of the end of 2025, the total gross domestic product (GDP) of TDT member and observer states exceeded 2.4 trillion US dollars, and the total foreign trade volume reached approximately 1.27 trillion dollars. When Turkish states are evaluated together, TDT is the world's eleventh largest economy and third largest energy supplier. Our countries, which have rich resources in terms of oil, natural gas, coal and critical minerals, meet more than 40 percent of the world's uranium production; At the same time, it is gradually increasing its investments in the field of renewable energy.
In today's world where global energy systems are rapidly changing and energy demand is constantly rising, acting together is no longer just a choice but a strategic necessity. The vital importance of energy security was particularly emphasized at the CSA Summits held in recent years. Interconnecting pipelines, power grids, storage infrastructures and transportation routes; It is of great importance in terms of securing energy supply, developing trade, and strengthening economic and geopolitical stability. Large-scale projects such as the Southern Gas Corridor, Central Asia–Azerbaijan Green Energy Corridor, Kambarata-1 Hydroelectric Power Plant and Black Sea Submarine Power Cable are concrete manifestations of the Turkish states' determination to strengthen regional and international energy connectivity.
These initiatives show that the Turkish world is increasingly assuming a decisive role in strengthening energy security, diversifying supply routes and developing cooperation in the field of renewable energy. In this regard, the Turkish World 2040 Vision offers us a strong strategic road map. This vision; It envisages deepening economic integration, increasing connectivity, strengthening institutions, investing in knowledge-based sectors and promoting sustainable, inclusive development. We undoubtedly see the most concrete response of this understanding in the field of transportation and connectivity.
The Trans-Caspian International East-West Central Corridor is increasingly turning into a strategic connection line between Asia and Europe. It is predicted that the amount of cargo transported through the corridor may reach 11 million tons by 2030. The China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, which is expected to have an annual transport capacity of up to 15 million tons, will also strengthen connectivity throughout Eurasia and open new horizons for regional trade.
However, the transportation corridors of our age are not just about railways, highways and ports. True connectivity goes beyond physical infrastructure and requires the efficient crossing of borders and the rapid and secure movement of information and documents along with goods. With this understanding, TDT complements its major infrastructure investments with concrete solutions in the field of customs and digitalization.
Our initiatives such as Simplified Customs Corridor, e-Permit, E-CMR and E-TIR aim to facilitate cross-border trade and reduce administrative barriers. Our efforts to conclude a free trade agreement in the field of services and investments with the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) will further the economic integration between our countries.
The recent collaborations between competition institutions, financial intelligence units, investment promotion agencies, supreme audit institutions and tax administrations also strengthen our institutional connectivity and contribute to the development of economic governance in the Turkish world.
The digital economy is at the center of all these studies. Digital trade platforms, compatible electronic customs systems, collaborations in financial technologies, secure data sharing and common approaches to digital regulations will make our economic relations more effective and accessible. Because digital transformation is not just a matter of technological renewal. Digital transformation is one of the cornerstones of the economic integration of our age.
Our ultimate goal is clear: to ensure that the connections we make have a real impact in the lives of the people and businesses who benefit from them. All these developments indicate that an increasingly integrated Turkish economic space is emerging, where infrastructure is supported by effective border crossings, trade is strengthened by investments, and the opportunities of each of our members are transformed into common opportunities.
Towards a Turkish world that is more tightly bound together
The Turkish world should not only be a memory of a common past for our young generations, but also a vibrant geography of opportunities opening to the future. Turkish Universities Association (TÜRKÜNİB) and Orhun Exchange Program strengthen the foundations of a common field of education and science by bringing our students, academics and universities closer to each other. Our initiatives such as the Young Volunteers Training Program, Multilateral Youth Exchange Program and International Youth Camp enable our young people living in different corners of the Turkish world to get to know each other, develop mutual understanding and reinforce their common sense of belonging. Initiatives such as Turkish Identity and Common Museum Card, which are currently being worked on, aim to facilitate travel and increase access to our common cultural heritage.
A transportation corridor finds its true value only when it is used effectively by the business world. Business cooperation is strengthened when supported by investments. Investments become more efficient when combined with technology and qualified human resources. All these gains become permanent and sustainable when our societies participate in the process and benefit from the results. Therefore, the future of the Organization of Turkish States is not only about increasing the number of our cooperation areas; It lies in transforming our existing mechanisms into a holistic field of opportunities that complement each other. Our real strength lies in our ability to remain open to the world while rising on our unique historical and cultural foundations.
In line with the Turkic World 2040 Vision, which determines our long-term direction, deeper connectivity and integration that we will develop on the basis of full respect for the sovereignty and national priorities of our states; It will strengthen our capacity to act jointly in the face of climate change, food and health security, disasters and other transboundary issues.
A Turkish world opening to the world
A strengthening Turkish world should also be a Turkish world that establishes closer ties with the world, broadens its horizons and contributes more to international cooperation. Our geography imposes a historical and natural responsibility on us in this respect. For centuries, the lands where the Turkish world extends have been at the crossroads of roads connecting the different peoples, civilizations, markets and ideas of Eurasia. The opportunity before us today is the fulfillment of what I have undertaken throughout history.
