Effects of regional development agencies in Turkish economy: Trakya Development Agency case

With the shift toward planned economic development, Turkey began preparing and implementing development plans. Since 1963, eleven Five-Year Development Plans have been carried out, and currently, the Twelfth Development Plan (2024–2028) is underway. Until the early 2000s, various public institutions and foundations were responsible for implementing these plans. However, the establishment of Development Agencies marked the beginning of a new phase. Today, there are 26 development agencies in Turkey, established to provide financial and technical support to public and civil actors in designated regions, aiming to enhance cooperation among public institutions, NGOs, and the private sector, and to promote the efficient use of local resources. The Trakya Development Agency (TRAKYAKA), founded in 2009 to serve the TR21 region (Edirne, Kırklareli, and Tekirdağ), has been operating for 16 years with this mission. This study aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of regional development agencies globally and in Turkey and to analyze the contributions of development agencies to the economy, with a specific focus on the Trakya Development Agency. The study is structured into four sections: the first outlines conceptual frameworks of regional and regional development theories; the second explores regional development policies in the world and Turkey; the third presents examples of development agencies; and the fourth offers a detailed examination of the Trakya Development Agency.