TOBB ETÜ, Continues Its Strong International Representation

Prof. Dr. A. Talha Yalta, Chair of the Department of Economics at the TOBB University of Economics and Technology (TOBB ETÜ), represented both Türkiye and the University at the 28th Sustainable Development Conference (SDC 2025) held in Islamabad, Pakistan, from 4 to 7 November 2025.

The conference, jointly organized with the UNESCAP South and South-West Asia Forum on Sustainable Development, the 16th South Asia Economic Summit (SAES XVI), and the 3rd Sustainability Investment Expo, brought together ministers, policymakers, business leaders, academics, and international organizations from across the region. It is recognized as one of South Asia’s foremost platforms for sustainable development and policy dialogue.

High-Level Engagement and Strategic Discussions

During the four-day event, Prof. Dr. Yalta took part as a distinguished speaker in three separate panels focused on the future of AI governance, renewable energy, and global trade.

In the session on Telecom and the Digital Future of Pakistan, he introduced his latest work on AI governance frameworks that emphasize input quality, transparency, and explainability.

At the Renewable Energy Plenary, he highlighted less-known positive externalities of renewable energy such as resilience, competitiveness, and inclusion.

In the Tariff Turbulence Roundtable, he argued that tariff shocks should be used as an opportunity to upgrade economic complexity rather than merely for reactive protection.

Throughout the conference, Prof. Dr. Yalta met with senior officials from the Government of Pakistan, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, IRENA, UNESCAP, and various South Asian think tanks. Among the participants were the Ministers of Planning and Climate Change, IMF Resident Representative Dr. Mahir Binici, and senior representatives of Pakistan’s central bank and key ministries.

Prof. Dr. Yalta underscored that integrating data, energy, and trade policies into a coherent system is essential for sustainable prosperity, and that TOBB ETÜ’s interdisciplinary approach can serve as a valuable model for future international cooperation.

Analysis on Asia’s Future Highlighted in International Media

Prof. Dr. Yalta’s participation further strengthened TOBB ETÜ’s visibility in the international policy and research community, particularly in the domains of sustainable development, energy transition, and AI governance. His remarks at the conference were later cited in an editorial of national daily Business Recorder, which highlighted his key message that Asia’s challenge lies not in a lack of new ideas but in achieving institutional coordination across sectors.

About the Conference

The Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) is the flagship annual event of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), bringing together thought leaders from government, academia, civil society, and the private sector to discuss emerging global and regional challenges. The 2025 edition was held under the overarching theme “Sustainable Development in the Emerging World Dis|Order.”