Kacır, who accompanied President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in New York to attend the 81st General Assembly of the United Nations (UN), answered the AA correspondent's questions about their meeting there.
Kacır said that they came together with representatives of global companies and participants from different countries for three days, shared Türkiye's goals and vision, and took steps to direct investments to Türkiye.
Stating that they came together with many American and global companies at the Industry and High Technology Round Table Meeting, Kacır stated that the geostrategic developments in recent years have made the security and sustainability of investments one of the most important elements.
Kacır said, "Turkey, as an island of stability in this sense, is actually becoming an address where investors direct their preferences more. In order to accelerate these processes, we are implementing new programs both in terms of infrastructure and public incentives and supports." he said.
"We provide privileged support within the scope of HIT-30"
Reminding that Türkiye's largest-scale investment incentive program is HIT-30, Kacır stated that they provide privileged support to advanced technology areas from semiconductors to mobility, from solar energy to wind turbines, from data centers to artificial intelligence investments.
Kacır stated that Türkiye has clearly shared its road map in these areas and reminded that President Erdoğan announced the Artificial Intelligence Action Plan and 2030 targets in recent months.
In this context, Kacır stated that 2 percent of the public investment budget will be allocated to artificial intelligence projects, 2 thousand public data sets will be presented to artificial intelligence developers and the way for domestic artificial intelligence solutions will be paved, and that the data center infrastructure will be increased by 4 times its current level, reaching the gigawatt level.
Minister Kacır gave information that artificial intelligence growth zones will be created and data center investments will be accelerated by taking facilitating steps in energy supply.
Stating that it is aimed to realize at least 10 billion dollars of private sector investment in this field, Kacır said, "This attracts the attention of global companies and they also have the desire to take part in this road map with their own projects and investments." he said.
"Companies have the desire to expand their activities and investments in Türkiye"
Minister Kacır noted that, on the occasion of these meetings, they are trying to accelerate their steps both in the mentioned topics and in other issues that will add value to Türkiye in the coming period, especially new generation nuclear technologies.
Pointing out that many global companies have positively welcomed the value proposition that Türkiye offers for investors, Kacır pointed out that these companies have a desire to expand their activities and investments in Türkiye in the coming period.
Kacır stated that they saw that Türkiye responded to the expectations of technology companies regarding predictability, and said, "We were pleased to observe that the action plans and strategies we put forward actually found a very important response. I believe that in the coming period, international investments in Türkiye, especially high-tech topics, will have a very important place." he said.
Advanced technology target in Türkiye-US economic relations
Making evaluations regarding the 100 billion dollar bilateral trade volume target between Türkiye and the USA, Kacır emphasized that bilateral trade has doubled in the last 10 years, but the current potential is higher.
Kacır stated that bilateral trade volume refers not only to trade, but also to new partnerships, mutual investments, technology development collaborations and the establishment of new partnerships in scientific infrastructures.
Emphasizing that the USA is one of Türkiye's most important commercial partners and economic stakeholders, Kacır said, "I hope we will crown the momentum we have achieved in this regard in the last 10 years, especially in the field of advanced technologies in the coming period." he said.
Pointing out that Türkiye has gained new opportunities in the field of connectivity, that this is not limited to road and railway connections, but also the importance of digital connectivity and fiber infrastructures, Kacır said that the Middle Corridor, Zengezur Corridor and Development Road offer an important perspective to Türkiye, and that Türkiye will have an important position in Europe's value and supply chains with the Northern Marmara railway connection.
Minister Kacır said, "Therefore, all of these will offer new opportunities for American companies to invest more in Türkiye and strengthen their cooperation with Türkiye." he said.
"Artificial intelligence-focused projects will play a leading role in the development of the Turkish economy."
Kacır pointed out that the USA is one of the countries that invests the most in artificial intelligence, and almost 70 percent of the total data center investments in the world are made by American companies.
Stating that Türkiye is in close dialogue with the leading companies in this field, Kacır said, "Some of them have shown a will to direct investments to Türkiye. Hopefully, there will be new ones in the coming period." he said.
Kacır noted that Türkiye's digitalization speed and market with a population of 86 million are important for companies, and that they are also aware of Türkiye's technology development capabilities and production competencies.
Stating that Türkiye's wide sectoral diversity carries the added value opportunities in digitalization to a very advanced level, Kacır said, "Digitalization combined with artificial intelligence in both the production and service sectors, education and health will bring tremendous efficiency, and artificial intelligence-focused projects will play a leading role in the development of the Turkish economy." made his assessment.
Türkiye wants to get more share in the space field
Minister Kacır also touched upon the goals set by Türkiye within the scope of the National Space Program and reminded that the first manned space mission was carried out and that Türkiye produced its own communication satellite and sent it into space.
Kacır explained that today Türkiye can produce both communication and imaging satellites, built a spaceport in Somalia for independent access to space, and established a space technopark in Ankara.
Stating that a large ecosystem has formed in this field in Türkiye, Kacır stated that they have taken steps into deep space projects with the Moon program.
Kacır said, "Space is a very valuable topic both economically and strategically. Every year, more than 600 billion dollars are spent in the field of space in the world, and as Turkey, we want to get a larger share from here." he said.
Pointing out the importance of being a country that develops technology in deep space operations, Kacır stated that the Moon project, which is planned to be implemented next year, will be the first step towards this goal.
Kacır stated that in the project where Türkiye will use its own hybrid rocket technology in deep space, the lunar spacecraft produced with over 80 percent local production will enable Türkiye to be among the 9 countries that can reach the Moon.
Stating that this project will open the door for Türkiye to position itself as a technology development stakeholder in international Moon programs in the future, Kacır added that Türkiye's signing of the Artemis Agreements will create new opportunities for the country to take on a greater role, especially in deep space and Moon projects.
