Digital transformation roadmap finalized: Özlü

Turkey's digital transformation roadmap is in its final stage and will be unveiled in the coming days, Science, Industry and Technology Minister Faruk Özlü said on Thursday.

"We cannot leave behind our efforts for production and industrialization due to security problems in our region," Özlü said during his speech at Mediterranean Economic Forum in southern Mersin province.

Stating that technology is the biggest power of the current era, Özlü noted, it was at the center of the government policies.

"Countries which equip their schools, factories, cities and armies with technology become powerful and continue to be strong," Özlü said.

We aim to see Turkey as a science center, a hub of technology and an advanced industrial country.

Highlighting the strategic role of the Mediterranean region, Özlü said: "Being powerful in the Mediterranean means being powerful in the world. Having a voice in the Mediterranean means having a voice globally."

Turkey, which ranked fourth among 21 countries in the region based on gross domestic product, is a rising star of the Mediterranean.

Pointing out that women labour force participation rate in Turkey was around 30 percent while it was around 60 percent in the EU, Özlü suggested that increasing women employment rate should be adopted as Turkey's social goal.

"In this case, our ministry considers women entrepreneurship not only as an economic activity but also as a social responsibility," Özlü said.

According to the latest data from Turkish Statistical Institute, the labour force participation rate for women was 33.8 percent in November 2017, rising 1.1 percentage points compared to the same month in the previous year.

He added that the government puts social gender equality in all its plans and programs in order to achieve Turkey's development targets.

Turkish ministers, bureaucrats, economists, local directors, industrialists and exporters are among participants of the Mediterranean Economic Forum, which was held on March 7-8.

The forum is being held by organization company Özgencil Group, broadcast channel NTV and Turkey's Ministry of Development.

Main sessions to be discussed at the forum include macroeconomic developments, stable growth in economy, sustainable innovative agriculture and food, and Industry 4.0.