Under the coordination of the Union of Turkish World Municipalities (TDBB), Mongolia’s Darkhan Municipality signed a sister city protocol with Gönen (Balıkesir) Municipality and Zeytinburnu (Istanbul) Municipality with the ceremonies held on 26-27 October 2022.

The ceremonies were attended by Mayor of Zeytinburnu Ömer Arısoy, Mayor of Gönen İbrahim Palaz, Mayor of Darkhan-Uul Metropolitan Municipality Azjargal Boldbaatar, Mayor of Darkhan Tulgaa Togtsaikhan, Head of Environment, Food and Agriculture Development Commission of Darhan-Uul City Council Ganzorig Svkhbaatar, Department Head of Dharkhan City Regulation and Services Erdenebat Zorıgt, President of Darkhan City Culture and Recreation Institute Tamır Lkhagwajaw, Director of “Khero Ore” Iron Ore Enrichment Industry Saıkhanbayr Jargalsaıkhan and Deputy Mayor of Dharkhan-Ul Metropolitan Municipality Batzorıg Batsvkh.

The delegation first went to Gönen on Wednesday, October 26, 2022. Darkhan delegation, who met with the Mayor in his office before the ceremony in Gönen, exchanged information about the urban transformation works of Gönen Municipality, industrial and agricultural production activities in the city area. Then, a sister city protocol was signed between Darkhan Municipality and Gönen Municipality.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mayor of Gönen İbrahim Palaz said that with this protocol, they expanded the opportunities to strengthen cultural and economic relations within the scope of sister city projects.

On the other hand, Mayor of Darkhan-Uul Metropolitan Municipality Azjargal Boldbaatar stated that Darkhan city is one of the important leather-making cities of Mongolia and expressed that they are extremely happy with this step taken between the parties and that they are planning to cooperate in many fields including mutual investments, especially in industry, education and culture. 

After the signing ceremony, the delegation visited the Gönen Leather Specialization and Mixed Organized Industrial Zone and received information about the activities carried out.

Darkhan delegation visited Zeytinburnu Municipality in Istanbul on Thursday, October 27th. In Zeytinburnu program, a presentation on Electronic Services in Zeytinburnu Municipality was given to the delegation. A sister city protocol was signed by Mayor of Zeytinburnu Ömer Arısoy and Mayor of Darkhan-Uul Metropolitan Municipality Azjargal Boldbaatar. Then, the delegation visited the leather shops in Zeytinburnu and got information by visiting the green area works of the municipality.

On Friday, October 28, 2022, the delegation visited TDBB and met with TDBB Secretary General Fahri Solak, after a tour of the Istanbul Historical Peninsula (Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosques, Spice Bazaar, Grand Bazaar, etc.).

TDBB Secretary General Fahri Solak said, “We have more than 30 members from Mongolia. Mongolia is also represented in our TDBB Administrative Board. Mongolia attended our General Assembly Meeting held in June this year with a strong delegation. We have made many Mongolian cities sister cities with cities in Turkey. We held the VII of the “Altai Communities” Symposium, which is organized every year and includes TDBB among the supporting institutions, in Ulan-Bator, the capital of Mongolia. The book consisting of the papers presented at this Symposium was published by our Union. We are ready to develop our relations with Mongolia from now on.”

Darkhan-Uul Metropolitan Mayor Azjargal Boldbaatar also said, “Thank you for taking the time to accept us. Darkhan is the second largest city of Mongolia with a population of 113 thousand, where leather production is developed. While Darkhan has a total of 22 sister cities from different countries to date, it did not have any sister cities from Turkey. In this context, the number of our sister cities has increased to 24 with the Protocol we signed with Gönen and Zeytinburnu Municipalities. Thank you very much for your support during this process. We are ready to work closely with you from now on.”