UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS FROM TURKISH MINISTER FARUK OZLU
By Diyar Guldogan
ANKARA (AA) – Turkey will use “every means available ” for becoming a technology-producing country, Science, Industry and Technology Minister Faruk Ozlu said on Thursday.
Talking to Anadolu Agency’s Editors Desk in capital Ankara, Ozlu said: “The development of Turkey depends on producing technology. We will use every means available for this. ”
He said economic and social impact of digital transformation would be around $100 trillion in the next 10 years, according to World Economic Forum estimates.
“Our aim is to receive $1 trillion share from the digital transformation market, ” he added.
He said Turkey should not stay out of the digital transformation process, adding that the roadmap of transforming Turkey into a digital country is ready.
Ozlu said the roadmap includes six components: human, technology, strengthening of data processing infrastructure, supporting suppliers of local technology, promotion of digital technology producers and governance.
“We will establish 100 thematic colleges that will give education in digital technology, ” he said.
The minister also said Turkey will establish 50 research centers and train 60,000 research and development personnel.
About establishing a scientific base in Antarctica, Ozlu said Turkey will establish a scientific base in the Horseshoe Island.
“We have received data on technical and architectural equipments of the base. We will finish them this summer, ” he added.
The minister reiterated Turkey wants to be an “advisory state ” in Antarctica, saying: “It will bring a new dimension to scientific researches in our country. ”
Turkey currently has the status of being an “observatory state ” in Antarctica, which has served as a scientific research zone since a 1959 treaty; Turkey is a signatory of the treaty.
