The İMB has become a prominent, reputable and pioneering research, training and technical cooperation center and it aspires to contribute to the CBRT’s vision of “becoming one of the foremost central banks in the world”. To attain this goal, the İMB carries out innovative research in the fields of central banking, economics, finance and public policies; cooperates with expert individuals and institutions/corporations; organizes training programs in Turkey and abroad for central banks and international institutions on issues needed by central banks primarily; ensures effective operation of projects with consultancy and technical assistance components; provides concerned countries with such services or sends trainers/ exports abroad in the scope of technical assistance and consultancy; organizes international organizations such as conferences, seminars, workshops, panel discussions, meetings etc. in which central banks and international institutions participate.

A total of 432 officials from central banks and related policy institutions of 61 countries, including officials from Turkey, participated to the international training and technical cooperation activities organized by the İMB in 2016.

The İMB organized 15 international training programs, offered as seminars and workshops, on central banking issues with the participation of central banks, related policy institutions and international institutions in 2016. Four of these training programs - those on the topics of internal audit practices at central banks, sectoral financial accounts, survey design and implementation, central bank policy mix and risk management in financial institutions offering Islamic finance services - were initially introduced this year. Furthermore, the İMB for the first time conducted 2 of the training programs abroad in 2016. Throughout 2016, the İMB provided the participants of 1 training program the opportunity of having onsite training. Accordingly, 2 participants of the seminar on “Balance of Payments and External Statistics” had a 5-day applied training at the Statistics Department following the end of the seminar.

The İMB organized the following international training activities:

• The workshop on “Human Resources at Central Banks” in İstanbul on 23‑25 March 2016,
• The Seminar on “Internal Audit Practices at Central Banks” in İstanbul on 6‑8 April 2016,
• The Seminar on “Balance of Payments and External Statistics” in İstanbul on 26‑29 April 2016,
• The Seminar on “Financial Stability, Financial Crises and Monetary Policy” in İstanbul on 2‑6 May 2016,
• The Workshop on “Monetary Policy” in İzmir on 26‑29 May 2016,
• The Workshop on “Sectoral Financial Accounts” jointly organized with the Central Bank of Montenegro in Bar on 1‑3 June 2016,
• The Seminar on “Payment Systems and Instruments” in İstanbul on 5‑8 September 2016,
• The Seminar on “Prudential Supervision of the Banking Sector and Macroprudential Regulations” in İstanbul on 19‑23 September 2016,
• The Seminar on “Financial Markets and Instruments” in İstanbul on 10‑12 October 2016,
• The Seminar on “Survey Design and Implementation” in İstanbul on 31 October- 2 November 2016,
• The Seminar on “Short-term Forecasting at Central Banks” in İstanbul on 7‑11 November 2016,
• The Workshop on “Central Bank Policy Mix: Issues, Challenges, and Policies” jointly organized with the Bank Indonesia in Bali on 21‑25 November 2016,
• The Seminar on “Introduction to Monetary Policy Modelling” in İstanbul on 5‑9 December 2016,
• The Workshop on “Sukuk and Islamic Liquidity Management” jointly organized with the World Bank Global Islamic Finance Development Center and the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries in İstanbul on 12‑14 December 2016,
• The Workshop on “Risk Management in Financial Institutions Offering Islamic Finance Services” jointly organized with the Toronto Center in İstanbul on 18‑23 December 2016.

In 2016, 311 officials from central banks and related policy institutions of 60 countries, including officials from Turkey, participated in the international training programs organized by the İMB (Graph 35). Also, 278 officials from Asian, European, African and South American countries joined the international training programs (Graph 36).

Graph 35. Distribution of Participation to the İMB International Training Programs
(Number of Participants)

Graph 36. Distribution of Participation from Other Countries to the İMB International Training Activities
(Number of Participants)

With the intention of improving bilateral cooperation with central banks and international institutions, the İMB organized 13 technical cooperation programs for 11 central banks and a related institution, 5 of them delivered abroad. One of these programs was organized within the scope of the MoU Agreement between the Central Bank of Afghanistan and the CBRT, 1 of them arranged within the scope of the MoU Agreement between the Central Bank of Iraq and the CBRT, 1 of them organized within the scope of the MoU Agreement between the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic and the CBRT and 2 of them organized within the scope of the MoU Agreement between the Central Bank of Montenegro and the CBRT.

With the technical cooperation programs coordinated by the İMB, the CBRT’s experience on the following topics shared with the officials from other central banks.

• Short-term Forecasting
• Balance of Payments and International Trade
• Licensing and Supervision of the Credit Registry Bureaus
• Internal Audit Practices
• Information Technologies Practices
• Communication Tools
• Auditing and Institutional Governance
• Governance Office Responsibilities
• Monetary Policy Formulation
• Human Resources Management
• Monetary Policy Transmission Mechanism
• Improving Bilateral Cooperation

In 2016, 121 officials from other central banks participated in the İMB technical cooperation programs (Graph 37).

Graph 37. Distribution of Participation to the İMB Technical Cooperation Programs
(Number of Participants)