Anadolu Agency’s economy-finance trainees graduate

By Bahattin Gonultas and Erdal Celikel

ANKARA (AA) - A group of 25 international journalists, who took part in Anadolu Agency’s Economy-Finance Journalism Training, graduated on Friday.

The training program was organized in collaboration with the Turkish International Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and the agency’s News Academy.

International trainees from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Tajikistan, and Mongolia received their certificates in a ceremony at the end of the training.

Speaking at the ceremony, Firat Gazel, the finance and economy executive editor at Anadolu Agency, said the agency will continue to train journalists from various countries and added the trainees who completed the program will be “stakeholders” of Anadolu Agency.

Mehmet Yilmaz, head of TIKA's External Affairs & Partnerships Department, said communication is an important tool in today's world and added that it is very important to raise journalists in the “constantly evolving” field.

Yilmaz said when the trainees return to their home countries, their communication with TIKA will continue. He emphasized the importance of feedback from the trainees once they apply their knowledge they acquired from the program.

TIKA's Manager for Training Projects Mustafa Hasim Polat, News Academy Deputy Coordinator Hayri Cetinkus, Deputy Editor of Anadolu Agency’s Energy Desk Baris Saglam and Deputy Editor of Anadolu Agency’s Economy Desk Bahattin Gonultas also attended the ceremony.

Orhan Guluzade, a trainee from Azerbaijan, said that the training “enriched” him and also gave an opportunity to get to know economic institutions in Turkey.

Zamira Azizkhanova, a trainee from Uzbekistan, hailed the program.

The 12-day/78-hour program included theoretical training on global economy and finance, effects of technological development on financial markets as well as reporting, photography, and interview techniques.