Turkey must stand on own feet in technology: Erdogan

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL

Turkey has to stand on its own feet in the field of technology, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.

Addressing the opening ceremony of a technology development area in the capital Ankara, Erdogan said: "As we cannot be independent without ruling our own territory, we also cannot maintain our independence without mastering in technology.”

From data production and security to defense, health, education, and information technologies, Turkey should have its own control on all, the president said.

Erdogan was speaking at the opening ceremony of the information and innovation center at the Middle East Technical University.

The center aims to attract key players in software and mobile technology areas from all around the world.

The focus should be on the quality in the new era, Erdogan stressed, adding: "For this, it is a must that we should carry our universities forward.

“Our human capital is our most important power."

Although the university system in Turkey is not ideal currently, Erdogan said, “We are determined to take important and extensive steps in this field”.