In Türkiye, Development Agencies were established to ensure the local and effective use of resources, to reduce disparities in development within and between regions, to strengthen cooperation among the public sector, the private sector and non-governmental organizations, to empower local administrations and to mobilize local potential.
In line with this purpose, the Western Black Sea Development Agency (BAKKA) was established by Council of Ministers Decision No. 2009/15236, published in the Official Gazette No. 27299 dated 25.07.2009, and as of 1 March 2010 it commenced its activities in the Zonguldak-based TR81 Level 2 region, which comprises the provinces of Zonguldak, Karabük and Bartın.
With Article 17 of Decree Law No. 703, which entered into force on 9 July 2018, many articles of Decree Law No. 641 on the Organization and Duties of the Ministry of Development were repealed. With Article 75 of the same decree, the title of Law No. 5449 on the Establishment, Coordination and Duties of Development Agencies was changed to the "Law on the Services of Development Agencies", and most of its articles were repealed.
Ministries were restructured by Presidential Decree No. 1, which entered into force on 10 July 2018. Article 387 of Presidential Decree No. 1 included the General Directorate of Development Agencies among the service units of the Ministry of Industry and Technology. Within this scope, the coordination of Development Agencies was transferred to the "General Directorate of Development Agencies" within the Ministry of Industry and Technology.
BAKKA continues to carry out its activities under the coordination of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, within the duties and powers set out by Law No. 5449 on the Services of Development Agencies and Presidential Decree No. 4, and with a total of 38 employees it acts with the mission of ensuring the effective use of resources by developing a culture of cooperation among stakeholders for the social and economic development of the region.
In this context, BAKKA carries out its work as an institution that ensures stakeholder satisfaction in accordance with the relevant legislation and standards, is active in research and planning activities, can respond promptly to all incoming requests, is effective in multilateral cooperation and coordination activities, undertakes work that enhances the institution's reputation, increases employee satisfaction and qualifications, fulfils applicable requirements and continuously improves all of its processes.
With a focus on economic and social development, various intervention programs are being designed in different themes and sectors through planning, with the aims of reducing disparities in development between and within regions, strengthening cooperation among the public sector, the private sector and non-governmental organizations, mobilizing local potential by ensuring the local and effective use of resources, and improving business and quality of life as well as the level of competitiveness in the region.