Sustainable development and transportation: Maritime transportation model for Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP)

GAP is a multi-sectoral and integrated regional development project based on the concept of sustainable development. Its basic aim is to eliminate regional development disparities by raising people's income level and living standards; and to contribute to such national development targets as social stability and economic growth by enhancing the productive and employment generating capacity of the rural sector. In this study, the concepts of regional and sustainable development are explained. The background and current position of GAP project is given. The benefits of the cities within the region are also considered in the study in terms sustainable development. Regional development accelerates development of trade activities and the increasing need for logistics and transportation services. The paper examines transportation facilities of the outcome and income of the GAP project for the cities within the region. With the completion of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), agricultural production and the corresponding exports are expected to increase considerably, accelerating the maritime trade in the region. The model that is explained and evaluated in this paper consists of three phases. These are land container terminals in selected cities, railway and motorway connection between land container terminals and port development. The results and future expectations from the maritime transport model are discussed.