CGFT's focal point is the relationship between corporate governance and sustainable development.

The purpose of Corporate Governance Forum of Turkey (CGFT) is to contribute to the improvement of corporate governance practices and legal, institutional, behavioral framework for corporate governance. To this end, CGFT conducts researches, projects and campaigns in order to mobilize companies, investors and business ecosystem within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

CGFT Turkey gave its support to Capital Markets Board of Turkey (SPK) on improving Corporate Governance Principles until the end of 2005.

Since 2005, CGFT has been focused on filling the gaps in the research of corporate governance field and knowledge generation. From 2005 to 2008, CGFT trained two PhD students within the framework of the European Commission funded European Corporate Governance Doctoral Training Network (ECGTN) project, and later took an active role in the establishment of the IFC-backed Emerging Markets Corporate Governance Research Network (EMCGN).

Since 2009, CGFT has begun to focus on field studies that will encourage companies to improve corporate governance practices and policies. Through its research, CGFT supports the development and implementation of corporate governance policies which will ensure that company activities are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). In 2010, “Sustainable Investments in Turkey” report which is written by CGFT experts and published by IFC, created the conceptual framework of Istanbul Stock Exchange (BIST) Sustainability Index. CGFT Team also takes an active part in UN Global Compact Working Groups.

CGFT continues its studies as an interdisciplinary and inclusive practice research under the umbrella of Faculty of Management at Sabancı University.