UPDATE - Turkish president attends Teknofest in Istanbul

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS OF PRESIDENT

By Cigdem Alyanak, Elif Kucuk and Zeynep Rakipoglu

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended Teknofest, a technology and aerospace fair in Istanbul, on Saturday.

“I see this place as a platform that shows what our young people can do, even with very limited opportunities in the field of technology,” Erdogan said.

“This year, Teknofest has broken a record with nearly 17,400 and 2,000 finalists, 50,000 contestant applications and 10,000 finalists in all 81 provinces of Turkey and 122 countries,” he added.

"In the process of technological transformation, we want to be the manufacturer of new technologies, not a market," Erdogan stressed.

Erdogan also said the program of leading international researchers will continue in the following years.

"Senior researchers who have come to Turkey under this program will conduct scientific studies in such a rich research environment and hopefully they will set an example to our youth," Erdogan said.

"127 senior researchers, 98 of whom are Turkish and 29 foreigners, will benefit from this program and will have important roles in crucial research and development projects," he added.

Istanbul Ataturk Airport is hosting the six-day festival, co-organized by the Turkish Technology Team Foundation and the Industry and Technology Ministry. Anadolu Agency is the festival’s global communications partner.

The festival will feature numerous activities such as aviation shows, seminars, workshops, a drone championship, contests and concerts.

*Writing by Erdogan Cagatay Zontur