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Sindelfingen concludes historic partnership with Menteşe!
Sindelfingen and Menteşe sign an MoU to promote culture, education and tourism. Cooperation in sight!
Sindelfingen concludes historic partnership with Menteşe!
On June 12, 2025, the city of Sindelfingen and the Turkish city of Menteşe took a significant step towards partnership cooperation. At a festive event, the International Street Festival, Mayor Dr. Bernd Vöhringer (CDU) and Mayor Gonca Köksal Aras signed a “Memorandum of Understanding” (MoU). This declaration of intent lays the foundation for deeper cooperation in the areas of culture, education, tourism and sport.
The Turkish city of Menteşe, located in Muğla Province in southwestern Turkey, has a population of around 125,000 and is known as the socio-cultural center of the region. It covers an area of around 1,650 square kilometers and is strategically positioned at the interface of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, making it a significant location for international tourism. This cooperation is particularly relevant for Sindelfingen, as around 5,100 people with Turkish citizenship live here, forming a bridge between the two cities.
Culture and education in focus
The agreement between Sindelfingen and Menteşe aims to strengthen existing cultural and social connections. “We would like to promote cultural exchange and joint educational projects through this partnership,” explained Vöhringer. Collaboration in the areas of tourism and sport is particularly important, as it should enable both cities to learn from and support each other.
Mayor Gonca Köksal Aras, the first female mayor of Menteşe since the 2024 local elections, has a background in urban planning and brings her expertise to the partnership. Under her leadership, Menteşe is actively involved in national and international networks on topics such as climate, health and urban development. Recent projects in Menteşe include, among other things, initiatives for CO₂ reduction, youth development and equality.
Muğla Province, where Menteşe is located, includes important tourism regions with a coastline of approximately 1,589 kilometers. The most famous districts include Bodrum, Marmaris, Fethiye, Datça and Dalaman, which attract millions of tourists every year. This geographical and economic proximity offers optimal conditions for a fruitful partnership.
The initiation of this cooperation represents a first step that raises hope for a flourishing relationship between Sindelfingen and Menteşe, which will not only benefit intercultural dialogue, but also the citizens of both cities. Further information on this topic can be found in the reports from Stuttgarter Nachrichten and Sindelfingen.de.