The first Blue Dot Network (BDN) Certification Ceremony, supported by the OECD and honoring global infrastructure projects, was held at the OECD Conference Center in Paris. The Eurasia Tunnel, one of Turkey’s mega infrastructure projects, earned this prestigious certification due to its groundbreaking contributions to international infrastructure literature.
The Eurasia Tunnel, which is the first project from Turkey to receive the Blue Dot Network certification, is also one of the first four projects worldwide to successfully complete the certification process. The certificates were presented to the officials of the Ministry of Transport and the Eurasia Tunnel by Edwin Lau, the Secretary General of the Blue Dot Network, during the ceremony.
The Blue Dot Network (BDN) is a global initiative launched by the United States, Japan, Australia, and the United Kingdom, aimed at promoting high-quality, sustainable, and inclusive infrastructure investments worldwide. Managed under the OECD Secretariat, it is carried out by seven member countries, including Turkey. Turkey's active membership in this network represents a significant step towards alignment with international infrastructure standards and sustainable development goals.
Projects that successfully completed the certification process, based on the technical framework set by the OECD, received their certificates during a ceremony at the OECD Conference Center in Paris. The Eurasia Tunnel became the first transportation project from Turkey to receive the Blue Dot Network certification by meeting the program's criteria: "open and inclusive, transparent, supporting the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, and being financially, socially, and environmentally sustainable."
During the ceremony, held under the auspices of the OECD and the Blue Dot Network Secretariat, the Eurasia Tunnel project was represented by Yalçın Eyigün, Director General of Infrastructure Investments at the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure; Burak Aykan, Director General of EU and External Relations at the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure; Ambassador Esen Altuğ, Permanent Representative of Turkey to the OECD; Ambassador Sangdae Choi, Permanent Representative of South Korea to the OECD; Başar Arıoğlu, Chairman of Yapı Merkezi Holding and Eurasia Tunnel, and other project officials.
Blue Dot Network: A Reliable and Globally Recognized Infrastructure Standard
The ceremony began with an opening speech by Edwin Lau, Secretary General of the Blue Dot Network, and continued with remarks from Mary Beth Goodman, Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD, and Ambassador Catherine Cudre-Mauroux, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the OECD. Throughout the ceremony, the importance of the Blue Dot Network certification as a reliable and internationally recognized standard for high-quality infrastructure was emphasized, while celebrating the first projects worldwide to receive this certification.
In meetings during the event, officials from the Eurasia Tunnel provided comprehensive information on the project’s overall structure and the certification process carried out under the Blue Dot Network to the representatives of member countries and the Advisory Board, which consists of private sector representatives.
As one of the four pioneering projects to receive certification, the Eurasia Tunnel’s certificate was presented by Edwin Lau to the Eurasia Tunnel and Ministry of Transport officials.
Sustainable Infrastructure and Economic Model: A Symbol of the Eurasia Tunnel
The Eurasia Tunnel, the first and only dual-level highway tunnel connecting Asia and Europe under the sea in Istanbul, stands out not only for its engineering success but also for its economic contributions, societal impact, and sustainable infrastructure vision.
Since opening in 2016, over 155 million vehicles have passed through the tunnel. With an average of 77,000 vehicles daily, the tunnel continues to reduce urban traffic congestion, contributing over 2 billion dollars to the Turkish economy. In 2024 alone, it generated an economic benefit of 445 million dollars through savings in time, fuel, accident costs, and emissions. The Eurasia Tunnel is also the first project in Turkey operated under a revenue-sharing model.
The financing model, which attracted 89% foreign investment and is structured to be transferred with zero debt, exemplifies public-private sector cooperation.
Every Step of the Eurasia Tunnel is Guided by Sustainability
The entire process of the Eurasia Tunnel was planned with a focus on social and environmental impacts, aiming for a sustainable world and corporate citizenship awareness. From the design phase to construction and operation, the physical, natural, cultural, social, and socioeconomic environmental impacts were analyzed and minimized under the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).
All design and construction activities on Istanbul’s historical peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage site, were carried out in accordance with UNESCO’s recommendations. Under the Stakeholder Engagement Plan, a transparent communication policy was followed throughout the project, resulting in redesigns and modifications to ensure alignment with international best practices.
In the operational phase, social and environmental sensitivity continues to be a priority. In 2021, the Eurasia Tunnel earned the International Green Energy Certification (I-REC) by sourcing its electricity from renewable resources, and in 2022, it achieved ISO 14064 Carbon Neutral Certification, meeting its environmental goals. In line with its commitment to governance and transparency, the project published a detailed report on its construction and operational performance, as well as its use of the Public-Private Partnership model, on its website in 2022.
In 2024, the Solar Energy System (SES) with a targeted annual production of 322,880 kWh was completed and activated at the Operations and Maintenance Building and the Asian Ventilation and Transformer Buildings.
What is the Blue Dot Network (BDN)?
The Blue Dot Network (BDN) is a global initiative aimed at promoting sustainable infrastructure development principles worldwide, launched by the governments of the United States, Japan, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Supported by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), this multi-stakeholder initiative brings together governments, the private sector, and civil society organizations to ensure high-quality, reliable standards for global infrastructure development and to certify infrastructure projects implemented in compliance with these principles and standards.
The technical framework for the Blue Dot Network certification process and its pilot implementation is managed by the OECD.