Türkiye’s Term in the Turkic World’s Insurance Cooperation
The 2nd General Assembly of the Turkic World Insurance Union was held in Gaziantep on October 10, 2026, hosted by the Insurance Association of Türkiye. At the General Assembly, the rotating presidency passed to Türkiye, and Atilla Benli was elected as the Union’s president. During the meeting, where the priorities for the new term aimed at strengthening cooperation among the insurance sectors of the Turkic world were shared, the Union’s official website, twiu.org, was also launched.
At the General Assembly, which brought together the insurance expertise of the Turkic world under a shared vision for the future, the goal of strengthening solidarity among countries through concrete projects emerged as a key focus. Held in Gaziantep—a major hub for manufacturing and trade—the meeting addressed the management of shared risks, the development of insurance and reinsurance capacity, the exchange of knowledge and experience, and the deepening of institutional cooperation.
At the opening of the General Assembly, Fatma Şahin, Mayor of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, Davut Menteş, Chairman of the Insurance and Private Pension Regulation and Supervision Authority (SEDDK), Ülviyye Cabbarova, former Chairwoman of the Turkic World Insurance Union, and Ahmet Yaşar, President of the Insurance Association of Türkiye, addressed the participants.
Fatma Şahin Calls for Strong Collaboration to Build Resilient Cities: “Precaution First, Then Trust in God”
In her speech at the 2nd General Assembly of the Turkish World Insurance Union, Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin emphasized the importance of disaster preparedness, risk reduction, and the insurance sector in light of the lessons learned from the February 6 earthquakes. Şahin called for the establishment of strong and sustainable partnerships among public institutions, local governments, and the insurance sector to build resilient cities.
Noting that resilience to disasters requires a multidimensional approach, Şahin stated that, in addition to engineering solutions, the economy, finance, governance, environmental sustainability, and civic participation are also fundamental elements that strengthen cities’ resilience.
Sharing Gaziantep’s experiences with earthquake and urban master plans, infrastructure investments, and disaster management, Şahin emphasized the need to prioritize pre-disaster risk reduction efforts alongside the development of post-disaster response capabilities. Noting that insurance is a key tool for supporting the economic and social resilience of cities, she underscored the importance of establishing institutional and lasting partnerships in this field.
Emphasizing that disaster preparedness is a shared responsibility through the approach of “precaution first, then trust in God,” Şahin stated that the proposals put forward at the General Assembly must be transformed into concrete projects. She noted that the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality is ready to collaborate on the development of these projects and the joint execution of their implementation processes.
SEDDK Chairman Menteş: “We are ready to share Türkiye’s experience in the insurance sector with the Turkic world”
In his speech, SEDDK Chairman Davut Menteş emphasized that the shared history, language, culture, and values uniting the Turkic states lay the groundwork for strong partnerships that support development and prosperity. Viewing the establishment of the Union as a reflection of this shared ideal in the insurance sector, Menteş noted that the General Assembly offered an important opportunity to evaluate current efforts and develop new joint projects.
Highlighting Türkiye’s insurance market, which exceeds $40 billion, and its private pension savings of approximately $50 billion, Menteş stated that they are ready to share their experience—spanning 150 years in insurance and over 20 years in private pensions—with the Turkic world. Noting that reinsurance holds significant opportunities for cooperation due to its international structure and capacity requirements, Menteş listed technology, digital infrastructure, agricultural insurance, participatory insurance, and private pensions among the priority areas.
Menteş noted that Türkiye’s technological infrastructure, transparent reporting practices in the pension sector, and agricultural insurance model could contribute to joint efforts, and emphasized that climate change has made cooperation in agricultural insurance even more critical. Referring to the meetings held with delegations from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan, he stated that this process was conducted in the spirit of mutual learning and the sharing of experiences.
Citing the Insurance Arbitration Commission, the Guarantee Fund, the Turkish Motor Insurers’ Bureau, and sector-specific training institutions as examples of joint resolution mechanisms, Menteş noted that these structures could also be considered in terms of cooperation and the sharing of best practices among member countries. Menteş expressed his hope that the General Assembly would be beneficial for the countries, their insurance sectors, and the entire Turkic world.
Ülviyye Cabbarova: “May our unity endure, and may our shared future be bright.”
Ülviyye Cabbarova, former Chairwoman of the Turkic World Insurance Union, emphasized in her speech that the shared history, values, and bonds of brotherhood uniting the Turkic world also form the foundation for cooperation in the insurance sector. Referring to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s words, “The Turkic world is our family, and we have no other family,” Cabbarova noted that this understanding reflects the Union’s spirit of solidarity.
Noting that holding the Second General Assembly in Gaziantep carried special significance, Cabbarova highlighted the recovery and reconstruction efforts undertaken in the city following the 2023 earthquakes and expressed her gratitude to Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin and her team. Cabbarova stressed the importance of being prepared for risks and building more resilient societies.
Stating that the developing economic and commercial relations among Turkic states must be supported by strong and sustainable partnerships in the insurance sector, Cabbarova pointed to the Union’s goals of bringing insurance markets closer together, increasing the exchange of knowledge and experience, and developing joint projects. Cabbarova expressed her hope that the General Assembly would be a success for all countries and sectors and thanked those who contributed to the organization of the event.
Ahmet Yaşar: “Time to build a secure future together”
Ahmet Yaşar, President of the Insurance Association of Türkiye emphasized in his speech that the shared history and geography of the Turkic world must be supported by collaborations that will secure a shared future. Noting that risks know no borders, Yaşar highlighted the strategic role of the insurance sector in strengthening the resilience of societies.
Stating that Türkiye is ready to share its institutional expertise and human resources in the insurance sector with its sister nations, Yaşar said: “We want to share not only our insurance products with the Turkic world, but also our institutional expertise, experience, and human resources. We view this not as a one-way transfer of knowledge, but as an opportunity for mutual learning and shared development.”
Noting that Türkiye’s experience with DASK and TARSİM could contribute to joint efforts in managing disaster and agricultural risks, Yaşar also drew attention to the insurance needs arising from the growing production, trade, transportation, energy, and investment activities along the Middle Corridor.
Yaşar proposed launching a joint risk and resilience initiative for the new term; establishing a technical working group in the field of insurance and reinsurance; and developing joint training and professional exchange programs. He emphasized the importance of supporting these efforts with a timeline, designated teams, and concrete outcomes.
Atilla Benli, who first proposed the idea of a union, elected president
Atilla Benli, who was elected chairman of the Union at the General Assembly, first proposed the idea of the Turkic World Insurance Union in 2020, while serving as chairman of the Turkish Insurance Union. Benli, who currently serves as General Manager of Zurich Yaşam ve Emeklilik, stated that assuming the presidency is a great honor and a significant responsibility for him.
Expressing his gratitude to the previous Chairwoman, Ülviyye Cabbarova, for her contributions to the Union’s development, the strengthening of its institutional structure, and the advancement of relations among the insurance sectors of the Turkic world, Benli outlined the key priority for the new term as follows:
“Our top priority in this new term will be to build on the strong relationships we have established to date and transform cooperation among our countries into a framework that yields tangible results.”
Benli stated that they aim to increase the sharing of knowledge and experience, develop joint projects, and deepen cooperation, particularly in the areas of research, education, and reinsurance. He emphasized the importance of all members’ contributions and support in helping the Union become a more effective, stronger, and more visible organization on the international stage.
Institutional Development and Cooperation from Shusha to Gaziantep
Over the past year following the 1st General Assembly held in Shusha, Azerbaijan, in 2025, the Turkic World Insurance Union has continued its efforts to strengthen its institutional structure and foster cooperation among member countries. During this period, while the Union’s core objectives and areas of activity were clarified, efforts were made to increase the sharing of information, experience, and expertise among the insurance markets of member and observer countries.
At the 2nd General Assembly in Gaziantep, the goal of transforming this accumulated knowledge into joint projects and tangible results took center stage.
Two panels addressed insurance markets in the Turkic world
The first panel on the General Assembly agenda was held under the title “The Turkic World in the New Global Risk Order: Harmonization, Resilience, and a Shared Future in Insurance Regulation.” Moderated by Atilla Benli, the panel featured Barış Taşkesen, Deputy Chairman of SEDDK, representing Türkiye. The panel, which also included representatives from regulatory agencies in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, addressed regulatory alignment and resilience in the face of new global risks.
The second panel, moderated by Özgür Obalı, Secretary General of the Insurance Association of Türkiye, was held under the title “The Turkic World Insurance Market 2030: Shared Risks, Shared Capacity, Shared Future.” Ahmet Yaşar, President of the Insurance Association of Türkiye, and representatives from the insurance associations of Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus participated in the panel. The program continued with a closed-door session of the Union’s 2nd General Assembly.
The Union’s corporate website unveiled
The launch of the twiu.org corporate website—developed to enhance the Association’s international visibility—also took place during the 2nd General Assembly. Content for the website was prepared in both English and Russian. This step marked one of the significant developments of this new era in terms of strengthening the Union’s corporate communications and introducing its work to the international public.
