Chronicle

21.09.83: Foundation of the BGZ as “Berliner Gesellschaft für deutsch-türkische wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit mbH“ (Berlin Agency for German-Turkish Economic Cooperation Ltd.) on the initiative of the reigning mayor of Berlin, Richard von Weizsäcker. The aim is to promote SMEs in Turkey and German-Turkish cooperation in vocational education.

1984: First funding from BMZ/GTZ (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development/German Society for Technical Cooperation) for the “promotion of company training schemes in developing countries”. Projects launched for vehicle mechanics, machinists and fitters In Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir.

1985/1986: BGZ is co-founder of MEKSA (Foundation for the Promotion of Vocational Training and Small Industry) in Ankara. Dr Erdogan Okyay is appointed Secretary General.

1986: Federal President Richard von Weizsäcker visits the BGZ/MEKSA training project in Izmir.

1987: Start of train-the-trainer seminars in Turkey; first trade examinations in Istanbul and Izmir.

1988: Training and further education for unemployed people and young repatriates becomes a new area of involvement for BGZ/MEKSA. The project is financed by the BMA (Federal Ministry of Labour).

1989/1990: Adana, Marmaris and Eskisehir become locations for projects which also include the vocational fields of woodworking and tourism. In Istanbul and Izmir BGZ initiated master-craftsman’s training modelled on the German system.

1991: Revision of the Turkish Trade and Crafts Act: Establishment of dual vocational training.
BGZ approaches Swiss DEZA and coordinates a regional project package of MEKSA-DEZA cooperation in the south-east of Turkey.

1992/1993: BGZ and MEKSA’s first tri-lateral project with partners in Kazakhstan, Kirgisien, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
MEKSA initiates the membership of TESK in UEAPME (Union des Europäischen Handwerks und der Klein- und Mittelunternehmen: European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises).

1994: Expansion of BGZ activities to Poland and other MOE countries. Agency renamed as BGZ Berliner Gesellschaft für entwicklungspolitische Zusammenarbeit mbH (Berlin Development Cooperation Agency Ltd)

1995/1996: A training hotel is set up in Köycegiz (MUGLA) and put into operation. New training projects are launched in skilled crafts and services in six locations in Turkey.

1997: Dr Albert Freitag, BGZ founding director, Dr C. Sencer Imer, MEKSA president, Dr Erdogan Okyay, MEKSA vice-president and Dr Irfan Yazman, MEKSA director receive the Bundesverdienstkreuz (Federal Cross of Merit) for their services to German-Turkish cooperation.

1998: BGZ establishes the Foundation for German-Polish Cooperation (BGZ- Fundacja Wspolpracy Polsko-Niemieckiej) in Warsaw.

1999: Via BGZ, the BMA promotes projects for the reintegration of Gastarbeiterkinder (children of guest workers) in Turkey. Project locations are Marmaris and Köycegiz.

2000: First projects in Poland: Seminars for social partners and exchange and qualification measures in the German-Polish border region, promoted through the BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research) and the EU programme Leonardo da Vinci.

2001: Integration of immigrants becomes a further focal point of BGZ projects. Start up of the nation-wide EQUAL development partnership ProInteCra – vocational integration of immigrants into skilled crafts.

2002: First cooperation with the European Training Foundation for the preparation of Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey for entry to the EU.

2003: BGZ takes on another remit: Promotion of cooperation between administration bodies and support of Berlin city partnerships.
The International Conference for Women Entrepreneurs for participants from the partner cities of Warsaw, Prague, Budapest and Istanbul is the first in a series of conferences.

2004: Renamed BGZ Berliner Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit mbH (Berlin International Cooperation Agency Ltd) after reorientation of region and content.
New projects launched, including “Networking Berlin” and the first German-Turkish mobility projects through Leonardo da Vinci. Implementation of the International Water Conference in cooperation with the Senate Office for Economics, Labour and Women’s Issues.

2005: The second EQUAL development partnership with BGZ is approved. “ProIntegration – Integration through intercultural main-streaming” starts with 9 partial projects in Berlin.
Two major EU projects are launched for the setting up and development of fire services in Turkey’s earthquake regions.

2006: Together with the Berlin Underground- TV- “Berliner Fenster“ and the radio station “radiomultikulti” BGZ carries out the DigiTales Festival “EQUAL Opportunities for All”.
With “Acitve Health” BGZ starts it´s first project within the frame of the masterplan “Health Region Berlin”.

2007: Together with the Senate Department for Economics, Technology and Women's Issues and other partners the BGZ organizes the II. International Water Conference (IWC) in the framework of the Asia Pacific Weeks. “Health Exchange“ and “EU in Motion“ are granted as further projects of BGZ within the Master Plan for the Health Region Berlin-Brandenburg.

2008: With “EU in Motion“ and “Health Exchange“ BGZ implements further projects in the Master Plan Health. Within the topic Environment and Energy “KoTransfer“ is launched as a follow-up project of “Umbau & Ko“.

2009: Together with the Berlin Fire Brigade and the Chamber of Crafts BGZ launches “Operation Berlin“, this opens a new approach to fire brigade careers. With “Leonida” the third major ESF-project of the BGZ is launched. “Umbau & Ko“ receives the Leonardo prize 2009.

With "Awareness for Fairness" and " BerufeGlobal " BGZ starts two new projects in the field of global learning. "Awareness for Fairness" is one of the three winners of the World Aware Education Awards 2010, awarded by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe.