H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK and H.E. Dr. Babatunde AHONSI, UN Resident Coordinator (UNRCO) in Ankara, came together to explore avenues for enhanced cooperation between SESRIC and UN agencies in Türkiye.

Discussions during the meeting focused on utilising the combined expertise of SESRIC and UNRCO to strengthen collaborative efforts in socio-economic areas, with particular emphasis on South-South Cooperation (SSC). H.E. SELÇUK and H.E. Dr. AHONSI both highlighted the joint successes achieved in the field of South-South cooperation and identified new opportunities for collaboration to further strengthen the socio-economic landscape.

H.E. SELÇUK underlined the central role of SESRIC in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in OIC countries by monitoring the progress of the group of OIC countries in prioritized 8 SDGs. SESRIC also, as the Secretariat of the OIC Statistical Commission (OIC-StatCom), provides a platform for the exchange of experiences and best practices among its members on these 8 prioritised SDGs and developing effective statistical capacities in monitoring of SDGs at the OIC level, she added.

While thanking H.E. SELÇUK for her kind visit, H.E. Dr. AHONSI emphasized that through aligned efforts, SESRIC and UN agencies can strengthen knowledge-sharing, capacity development, and innovation tailored to benefit the common member countries and to expand partnerships with UN agencies in Türkiye by focusing on the potential of SSC as a crucial development tool.

The visit concluded with both representatives emphasizing the partnership between SESRIC and the UNRCO, highlighting a shared focus on knowledge exchange, capacity building, and fostering collaboration within the South-South paradigm towards socio-economic development.