Comrat State University (CSU) continues its active participation in international initiatives. On May 16, 2025, an important international event took place in Essen, Germany — the International Business Forum, organized by the Platform for International Integration of Peoples (UEMP) and the International Council for Trade and Cooperation (ATİK). According to data from May 2022, more than 13,000 people with Turkish citizenship and about 12,751 people born in Turkey lived in Essen. This makes the Turkish community one of the largest ethnic groups in the city, with a population of up to 15,000 people, depending on the method of counting. The Turkish diaspora actively participates in the social life of Essen: there are 42 Turkish restaurants in the city, which is the third-highest figure in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany), after Duisburg and Dortmund; the Turkish language and culture are represented in schools, cultural, and religious institutions. Thus, the choice of Essen as the venue for the International Business Forum and the launch of the Council of Mayors of Europe was especially symbolic, reflecting the contribution of the Turkish community to the development of the region and international dialogue. The event was attended by representatives of business, academia, government, non-governmental organizations, and the cultural sector from Europe and other regions. Opening speeches were given by ATİK representatives: Gökser Kan, head of the Essen branch, Selver Şengül, head of the NRW region, John Jennings, president of ATİK Germany, and Aziz Şahin, general president of the organization. Among the speakers were: retired governor of Turkey Ismail Fırat, head of the Minden-Lübbecke district Ali Doğan, member of the UK House of Lords Lord Kurban Hussein, president of the European Council of the World Turkish Business Forum Turgut Torunoğulları, and the mayor of Comrat Municipality Serghei Anastasov. Comrat State University (CSU) was represented by Rector Assoc. prof., Dr. Serghei ZAHARIA. The main event of the forum was the signing of a protocol for the creation of the Council of Mayors of Europe, aimed at developing cooperation between European cities, universities, and public institutions. The protocol was signed in the presence of high-ranking guests, including members of the European Parliament, representatives of the British House of Lords, delegations from Germany, Turkey, Moldova, and other countries. In his speech, Rector Assoc. prof., Dr. Serghei ZAHARIA., emphasized the importance of expanding international academic contacts and the role of universities in the development of intercultural dialogue and sustainable municipal practices. He also highlighted CSU’s readiness to participate in projects supporting the integration of ATU Gagauzia into the European scientific and educational space. After the official part, awards and honorary diplomas were presented to the participants, followed by a gala dinner that concluded the forum’s busy program.
