11.12.2020

Projects Of Marmara Municipalities Crowned With Golden Ant

8th Golden Ant Awards, organized by Marmara Municipalities Union to promote and disseminate municipalities’ projects that improve the quality of life in cities, have found their owners at the ceremony held in Istanbul on November 18, 2020. Within the scope of Golden Ants Awards, projects of municipalities in the Marmara Region has have been awarded in 10 categories including governance and participation, urban planning and infrastructure, environment and waste management, architecture and urban design, culture and arts, social services, local development, transportation and mobility, smart city applications and disaster management.

In the opening speech of the ceremony, President of Marmara Municipalities Union and Mayor of Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Tahir Büyükakın said, “This is the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the Marmara Municipalities Union. 45 years that we have walked together, worked together, produced together... The Golden Ant Awards, which brings us together today, are also a means to crown the works we do for our cities and the projects we produce. Our municipalities’ works play a critical role in creating a better future and cities with a high quality of life.  All richness created by cities, which become centers of attraction and offer investment opportunities, prepares the ground for countries to reach the welfare level at which they aim. Thus, our cities in the Marmara region which is Turkey's locomotive has a great significance for Turkey’s growth and developments."  

Stating that Altın Karınca rewards hard-working teams that successfully implement projects and projects, Büyükakın said, “We know very well that behind every successful project, there are municipal employees who work devotedly. Success comes naturally when the mayors and their teams believe in the same goal and have the same aims. We have a lot to learn from each other. Besides, with each new project, we learn more. I know that municipal employees work devotedly just like healthcare workers during the pandemic. You have worked with the awareness that serving the city is a sacred effort. Today, we will applaud the exemplary projects together. We believe that every effort to serve the public, whether it is awarded or not, is invaluable." Büyükakın finished his words by saying, "All our efforts is to build livable, sustainable, innovative and cities which do not cut off its ties with history for our Turkey... Because the greatest rewards for us is the happiness of city folk."

Providing information about the evaluation process of Golden Ant Awards, MMU Secretary General M. Cemil Arslan said, “The Social Services category was the category which received the highest number of applications this year in the Golden Ant Awards in which the evaluation process was carried out by a jury consisting of academicians and practitioners. This year, the UN Sustainable Development Goals occupy a special place among the Golden Ant Awards evaluation criteria. During the application process, the association established between the projects and these objectives earned additional points in the evaluation process. "

You can access more information on the award ceremony via: www.altinkarinca.com.tr