Turkiye replaces agriculture and forestry minister

ISTANBUL

Turkiye has replaced Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli with Vahit Kirisci, according to a decision published Friday in the Official Gazette.

The 62-year-old Kirisci has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering and a doctoral degree from Cranfield University in the UK. He became a professor in 2003.

Kirisci was a deputy in the 22nd parliament of Turkiye.

He became a member of the Turkiye-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission and served as deputy chairman.

Previously, he served as chairman of the Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Affairs Committee of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye.

The Official Gazette said Pakdemirli had requested for an exemption from his chair.