Short History 

Having each gained a leading position in their respective sectors, Turkey's institutions have joined forces in the preparation period for the “Competition Strategies Reports Series”. This initiatve was started back in 1997 by Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD) that enjoys the membership of BUSINESSEUROPE.

Capitalizing on the synergy formed back then, 41 institutions have established the Sectoral Institutions Platform* on December 12th, 2000. The agenda whereof mainly consisted of studies related to the issues of the European Union and Sustainable Competitive Power. Under these two headlines, the platform prepared various reports and established strong relations with players in the public sector.

Changes arising within the legal framework during 2004 in the compatibility period for the European Union brought institutions in Turkey under a common roof by establishing federations and confederations. At this point, platform activities moved to a new stage, as the valuable experience of 30 years obtained in the civil society prepared the ground for founding Federation of Industrial Associations (SEDEFED)** on May 7th, 2004. 

With this process in motion, together with sectoral institutions; local industrialists and businessmen associations all over Turkey jumped on the bandwagon of forming federations and established themselves “regional federations”. Such regional organizations in Turkey provided a legal umbrella to the Turkish Entrepreneurs and Businessmen Confederation (TÜRKONFED) on November 3rd, 2004, under the leadership of SEDEFED.

Once established, SEDEFED stated its vision in the “Workshop and Informative Searching Conference” held in December 2004 as: “Working in a developing world and a developing country to leverage the sustainable competitive power of our national sectors and serve as an influential civil and social institution in furthering international strategic cooperation."

Since its establishment, SEDEFED set many activities in motion to the day in line with the perspective inspired by SEDEFED's vision. Below is a list of the leading activities:

• SEDEFED established a platform to share the “best practices” developed over time by Turkey's sectoral institutions and the members thereof.

• SEDEFED issued a dynamic registry of sectoral employment organizations in Turkey whereby it showed the powerful sectoral representation of non-governmental organizations (STK) in Turkey.

• Within the framework of the strategic cooperation developed in 2005 with TUSIAD-Sabancı University Competition Forum-REF, the first “Competition Congress” in Turkey was held to attract attention to the issue of competition. The “Congress of Competition” is geared towards guiding competition politics in Turkey. It is an annual event held each year in November, of which the 4th edition held back in 2008 attracted large participation. SEDEFED and REF are planning to convert the Competition Congress into a “National Competition Day” in compliance with parallel activities of the European Business World Confederation BUSINESSEUROPE.

• SEDEFED is the founding member of the National Innovation Initiative (UIG) established to develop and direct cooperation between the private sector, universities and civil society. Such cooperation aims at establishing innovation policies in Turkey and reaching EU Lisbon targets practically. It also strives to contribute to the development of innovation policies by establishing dialogue with public administrations and formulating opinions and suggestions; thereby creating public awareness of innovation.

• SEDEFED, together with TÜRKONFED, TÜSİAD, REF and UIG; is coordinating Istanbul Region that will host chemistry/environment, lift and logistics/transportation sectors of the project in order to establish "Regional Innovation Centers – T@BİM” with the purpose of improving competitiveness given its important role in regional development.

• SEDEFED has conducted various studies to contribute to the strategic maps that the Turkish real economy has drawn and has to draw within the framework of the membership to the European Union and technological developments. Below are a few examples of these activities:
o Participation in the commissions established by the State Planning Organization with the purpose of preparing Turkey's 9th Five-Year Development Plan is guaranteed. SEDEFED represented the Real Economy in the consultation committees founded by the Turkish Government such as the Board for Improving the Investment Environment.
o It also took the first steps in Turkey to establish the Regulatory Impact Analyses that are required to assess the impacts of compatibility with the European Union Legal Acquis on the Turkish Real Economy; as part of Turkey's full membership in the EU. It also prepared the Regulatory Impact maps for the automotive, iron steel, chemistry and transportation sectors.
o SEDEFED has coordinated contacts with other sectors over the preparation period for the “Sectoral View of the Turkish Industry” Report, which is conceived of as the “Manufacturing Industry Strategy” of TÜSİAD, a SEDEFED member.
o At a time when the negative impacts of the Global Finance crisis had not been felt on the Turkish economy yet, the 4th Competition Congress was held several months ago by the coordination of SEDEFED-REF to consider “future scenarios”.  The Congress attracted large participation on November 6th, 2008 with the theme, “Global Expectations: Management of Turkish Business World Scenarios”.
o SEDEFED has issued a publication and held a workshop with the theme, "Dynamics of Change and the Road Map on How Turkey Would be Affected by Ecologic, Social, Economic, Political and Technological Changes in the Globalization Process".
o SEDEFED carried out various activities for the Lisbon Agenda; the latter being a competition road map for the European Union to be executed by Turkey.

• Member Institutions of SEDEFED are members of the European and Global Sectoral roof organizations**. SEDEFED pioneered a membership-based benefit program to share advantages provided by its member institutions with these roof organizations.

• SEDEFED shares developments achieved in connection with its sectors regularly with the press. In so doing, it pushes the boundaries of the representation power of its member institutions and businessmen in order to leverage the competitive power of the Turkish economy up to the level of Lisbon Targets and ensure a sustainable competition advantage.

• SEDEFED shares reports, researches and news to support the business community in terms of competition by means of “Sectoral News Bulletin” - a monthly publication now in its 39th issue that targets a high-profile readership.

• SEDEFED Web site has become one of the most important reference resources for the Turkish Real Economy in its 5th year.