At the Sustainability and Finance Forum held in Istanbul by the UK Department for Business and Trade with the support of UK Export Finance (UKEF), Participation Banks Association of Türkiye (TKBB) Deputy Secretary General Fatma Çınar participated as the moderator of the session titled “Ethical (Islamic) Finance: Support the Green Transition.”

The forum, which brought together leading experts throughout the day, comprehensively addressed the transformation of the financial system in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, green infrastructure investments, export finance, and public–private sector cooperation.

In the session moderated by Fatma Çınar, the speakers included Şebnem Alp, UKEF Country Head for Türkiye, Eastern Europe and Central Asia; Osman Karakütük, Executive Vice President of Treasury and International Banking at Ziraat Katılım; and Graham Burnside, Co-Founder of Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI) and Advisory Board Chair of Islamic Finance Council UK.

During the session, discussions focused on how the risk-sharing structure of ethical (Islamic) finance provides a strong foundation for sustainable investments, the growing importance of green sukuk and sustainability-themed financing instruments, the integration of export support mechanisms with green projects, and potential models of cooperation with international financial institutions.

In addition, the session addressed the management of financing costs during the transition to low-carbon production, the impact of ESG criteria on investment decisions, and innovative financial solutions that can be developed within the framework of participation finance principles. The session concluded with the message that ethical finance is not merely an alternative model, but an inclusive, sustainable, and long-term value-generating approach in the green transition process.