Turkey vows to become technology-producing country

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA

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.