Technology Development Region opened in Famagusta on 7 th October with a great ceremony in order to convert technological inventions to trade products with university–industry cooperation, to offer employment for young people and to have a technological sub-structure for the economy to gain competitive advantage in international era.

It has 4,600m2 closed spaces, 52 rooms with communication and internet sub-structure, and research labs and conference halls. It was financed by Turkey and cost 3,645,000YTL. EMU, EUL and Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry representatives are in the managerial company of the Region.

The following attended the opening ceremony:

Aydan Karahan, Ambassador of Turkey, Aydemir Culculoglu, Comander, Namik Kemal Caliskan, Commander, Dervis Kemal Deniz, Minister of Economics and Tourism, Oktay Kayalp, Mayor of Famagusta, Halil Guven, Rector of EMU and the guests.

Aydan Karahan, Ambassador of Turkey said: “In the last 30 years there has been a great improvement in TRNC. We used to repair schools 30 years ago, but today we are opening a ‘Teknopark'. This shows where Turkish Cypriots are going.”

He also marked that technology and knowledge are the tools that effect developments and changes. He said: “In order to improve economically and compete with others extra attention should be paid for research and progress functions.”

Dervis Kemal Deniz, Minister of Economics and Tourism said: “This will gain acceleration to TRNC economy. Higher education institutions are the main tools for the economy and their effect to technology will improve a lot of sectors.”

He continued: “There has been important improvement in TRNC economy for the last two years and the government wants to continue like this. They would like to improve private sector, prevent the immigration of brain and try to establish employment in the country.”

Prof.Dr.Halil Guven, Rector of EMU said: “Technologic investment has a great role to develop economy rapidly. Technological progress and products will be marketed through internet without be effected from embargos and isolations. TRNC can compete internationally with this `Teknopark` and in a short time there will be research and development applications at the Region.”

Prof.Dr.Suha Bayindir, Head of Committee said: “the Region will convert technology to economy and this will effect the development of the country and offer employment for the students. Industrial progress of TRNC is only possible with developing technology and TRNC universities have the potential to do so. The Region will bring foreign investors and prevent young brains to go abroad, most probably will call back the ones abroad. Six companies applied until now and 30-40 students are offered jobs. In 3-4 years, 300 people will be employed.

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