Ahmet Çetin has been re-elected head of the Antalya branch of İMEAK Deniz Ticaret Odası, Türkiye’s chamber of shipping, winning a two-way contest for the 2026-2030 term by a wide margin, local outlet Akdeniz Gerçek reported on Sunday evening.
Çetin, the incumbent, led the "Blue List" and secured 287 votes. His only challenger, Serkan Manav of the "White List", received 79 votes. A total of 371 ballots were cast, five of which were declared invalid. The result gives Çetin a third term at the helm of the branch.
Vote held at ATSO conference hall
The general assembly and election took place at the conference hall of the Antalya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ATSO), with polls closing at 17:00 on 25 October. The national chamber’s board chairman, Recep Düzgit, and its assembly chairman, Tamer Kıran, followed the vote in person.
İMEAK DTO is the professional chamber for the maritime sector, headquartered in Istanbul with branches and representative offices around the country. Its Antalya branch represents businesses in the province’s shipping and wider maritime economy.
Chamber elections have also been held elsewhere on the coast; the Marmaris Chamber of Commerce recently chose a new president.
"Unity, not division"
Speaking after the count, Çetin congratulated his rival and said the win added to the responsibility on his shoulders. He described his team’s motto as "experience at the helm, trust on the course" and said there was unity rather than division within the chamber.
Düzgit said the result confirmed the confidence members had in Çetin’s record and called on all stakeholders to work together for Turkish maritime affairs. Kıran praised Çetin as a unifying and inclusive figure and said the Antalya and national maritime sectors would continue to build on their work together.
What it means for the coast
For yacht owners, marina users and maritime businesses in the region, the result means the same team will remain the sector’s main local voice with authorities until 2030. The city is also preparing to host the COP31 climate conference in November, including a turtle-shaped pavilion. Readers considering a move can find more in our guide to living in Antalya.
Sources
Photo: Ant Rozetsky / Unsplash License, via Unsplash
