Turkiye Innovation Week

Minister of Trade Ruhsar Pekcan said: "Together with entrepreneurs who have proven themselves in innovative sectors, we are creating an 'innovative trade platform' in order to develop joint innovative trade policies."

Speaking at Turkiye Innovation Week, organised by the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) under the coordination of the Ministry of Trade, Pekcan said that new technologies have become the backbone of the global economy.

Noting that the patents and intellectual property rights resulting from innovation form an important component of the world economy, Pekcan said that in 2017 the United States earned USD 128 billion, the Netherlands USD 55 billion, Japan USD 42 billion, Switzerland USD 22 billion and Germany USD 20 billion in annual revenue from global intellectual property exports.

Emphasising that countries which generate innovation also have the opportunity to export their own products at higher prices by adding advanced technology and value, Pekcan said: "At the same time, alongside exporting these products, they earn additional income for their countries by exporting intellectual property rights. Therefore today's globally profitable companies are tomorrow's investors and exporters."

Pekcan noted that today, excluding finance and energy companies, 16 of the world's 20 most profitable companies are innovation companies, and said that these are firms which invest in new technologies.

"We are creating the innovative trade platform"

Minister of Trade Ruhsar Pekcan explained that, in a century in which innovation and competitiveness have become inseparable, it is necessary to exist through innovation and innovative technologies in order to rise into the class of high-income countries.

Noting that high-technology products accounted for 3.5% of industrial product exports, which stood at USD 157 billion in 2018, and that they aim to raise this share first to 10% and then to the OECD average of 17%, Pekcan said: "As the Ministry of Trade we are preparing projects for a Turkiye that will succeed in this century, and we continue to implement them jointly with our business community."

Pointing out that they are developing policies to make SMEs and women and young entrepreneurs more active in e-commerce, Pekcan said they are working on next-generation free zones for new technologies and will turn these into technology greenhouses.

"Together with entrepreneurs who have proven themselves in innovative sectors, we are creating an 'innovative trade platform' in order to develop joint innovative trade policies. Today we are here with our companies that are pioneers in innovation. I believe that with the policies we implement, Turkiye will rise ever higher in the innovation league.

The Innovation Development Programme is also an important organisation that we carry out within the framework of our objectives. When we look at the paths that will raise Turkiye into the class of high-income countries in the 21st century, we will see the steps of innovative firms such as the companies receiving awards today, which are a source of pride for us. I congratulate our companies receiving awards here and wish them continued success."

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