Minister Kacır, accompanied by Turkey’s first astronaut Alper Gezeravcı, expressed in a student meeting held at Erzurum Technical University (ETU) the significance of students, who are crucial elements and owners of the national technology leap.
Kacır emphasized that Turkey’s greatest strength lies in its young, dynamic, and hardworking population, stating, “The median age of our population is 33, compared to Europe’s 43. We are 10 years younger than Europe on average, and up to 15 years younger than some European countries. This is crucial and valuable because innovative technologies are shaping and transforming the world, and innovative technology teams, technology groups, and technological ventures established by young people are making significant contributions worldwide.”
Kacır said, “In our efforts for the national technology leap, under the leadership of our President, we always place the Turkish youth, the TEKNOFEST generation, at the heart and core. With this understanding, we have been organizing the world’s largest technological festivals with Turkish youth for 5 years.” He noted that 20,000 young people participated in 14 competitions at the first TEKNOFEST in 2018.
Recalling the TEKNOFEST held in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir in 2023, the 100th anniversary of the Republic, Minister Kacır continued:
“1 million of our youth participated in 44 technology competitions. This is an unprecedented grassroots movement in the world and Turkish youth have shown to the world in the last 20 years what great achievements they can accomplish when obstacles are removed and opportunities are provided. They have particularly excelled in defense industry and aviation. We were not one of the aviation countries of the 20th century, but when I came here, Professor Bülent Çakmak, the Rector of ETU, told me that they admitted students for the first time this year to the Department of Aerospace and Space Technologies. I felt immense pride and honor from this. I believe that the students in the department will fulfill what is expected of them and make history with their accomplishments.”
“We will be one of the 11 countries capable of developing their own satellites.” Kacır expressed that they will develop whatever the country needs with its own children and hard work, stating that they will replicate similar success stories in all fields of technology and space sciences as they did in defense industry and aviation.
Kacır explained that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan established the Turkish Space Agency and announced the national space program to the world in 2021, concluding his speech as follows:
“In the last 20 years, Turkey has gained experience step by step in satellite development. 20 years ago, we participated in joint production in the BİLSAT imaging satellite. Later, we produced the RASAT imaging satellite domestically, then GÖKTÜRK, and finally, in 2023, the 100th anniversary of the Republic, we launched İMECE, which allows us to obtain images with a resolution of less than a meter from approximately 600 kilometers, including its electro-optical camera, all critical components of which we developed and produced domestically. In the week of July 8, 2024, we will send Turkey’s first national communication satellite, TÜRKSAT 6A, into space, thus becoming one of the 11 countries capable of developing their own communication satellites. We aspire to be at the forefront of the race in every field. The workers who enable us to realize all these projects have an average age of 25, 26, 27. Therefore, we hope to run this race together with you.”
Following the speeches, Gezeravcı answered students’ questions about aviation and space and took photos with them.
The program was attended by Erzurum Governor Mustafa Çiftçi, Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mehmet Sekmen, AK Party Provincial Chairman İbrahim Küçükoğlu, ETU Rector Prof. Dr. Bülent Çakmak, institution directors, academics, and students.
Minister of Industry and Technology Kacır visited Erzurum and made some visits Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır visited Erzurum and made some visits.
Kacır, who came to the city to attend various programs with Turkey’s first astronaut Alper Gezeravcı, visited Governor Mustafa Çiftçi in his office and signed the Governorship Honor Book.
Kacır, who had a conversation with Çiftçi for a while, received information about the activities in the city.
Later, Kacır went to Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality and had a conversation with Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mehmet Sekmen for a while.
Visiting the Erzurum Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kacır then visited tradesmen and listened to the demands and problems of the citizens.
Minister Kacır visited the places he visited using the Togg vehicle he used.
source: aa.com.tr/ prepared by Melisa Beğiç