As the Turkish Accreditation Agency (TÜRKAK), we are pleased to celebrate this year’s World Accreditation Day under the theme “Accreditation: Supporting Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs).”
Celebrated globally for the 18th time on June 9th, this special day aims to highlight the crucial role accreditation plays in supporting SMEs, thereby facilitating global trade and promoting economic growth.
SMEs Are the Backbone of the Economy
According to data from the World Trade Organization, SMEs make up approximately 95% of businesses worldwide. They account for 60–70% of employment and 55% of GDP in developed economies, while contributing around 40% to national income in developing countries.
These dynamic structures are not only vital for economic stability and employment but also play a strategic role in innovation, entrepreneurship, and local development.
The Added Value of Accreditation for SMEs
Due to limited resources, SMEs may at times face challenges in obtaining quality certifications, accessing international markets, or proving their technical competence. This is precisely where accreditation steps in, offering businesses a reliable, impartial, and internationally recognized framework.
Through testing, inspection, certification, calibration, validation, and verification services performed by conformity assessment bodies accredited by TÜRKAK, SMEs are empowered to enhance their competitiveness, improve process efficiency, and integrate into global markets more easily.
With accreditation:
Trust is built: Quality assurance leads to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Competitive advantage is gained: SMEs can compete on equal terms with large enterprises.
Export becomes easier: International recognition of accredited certificates helps expand trade volumes.
Supply chains are strengthened: Transparent and sustainable business partnerships are fostered.
As TÜRKAK, we regard facilitating SMEs’ access to quality infrastructure and thereby supporting both national and international competitiveness as a strategic priority.
Sustainable Development and Future-Oriented Steps
Accreditation is not only a matter of technical compliance; it is a holistic system based on transparency, ethics, inclusivity, and trust. In this respect, it directly contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly:
Goal 8: Promote inclusive economic growth and decent work for all,
Goal 9: Foster sustainable industrialization and innovation.
The empowerment of SMEs through innovative solutions, their adaptation to the circular economy, and active participation in digital transformation are essential for achieving these goals.
TÜRKAK’s Vision: 2025 and Beyond
At TÜRKAK, we are continuously improving our processes to facilitate SME access to accreditation and quickly adapting to modern requirements through investments in digitalization. By fully digitizing all application and document procedures via our ASİST – Accreditation Process Management System portal, we enable more efficient use of resources while saving time and cost.
Additionally, we closely follow advancements in emerging technologies, sustainability, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, and we are enhancing our national and international collaborations to ensure SMEs benefit at the highest level from these transformations.
Happy World Accreditation Day
We recognize the strategic importance of accreditation in building a world of trust and promoting sustainable and inclusive development. On this occasion, we celebrate World Accreditation Day on June 9th and extend our sincere appreciation to our auditors, technical experts, employees of conformity assessment bodies across the country, and our international stakeholders at ILAC, IAF, and EA. Together, we look forward to building a stronger future.
Banu MÜDERRİSOĞLU
Secretary General-CEO
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