Mustafa Varank

The EU and Turkey are collaborating to host an event for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on March 15-16 in Ankara.

The Competitive Sectors Programme: Impact and Beyond aims to promote projects contributing to the targets of the joint industry policy of Turkey and EU.

Phones made in Chinese electronics giant Xiaomi's production unit in Turkey will be on the market starting next month, Turkey's industry and technology minister said on March 11.

Mustafa Varank made the remarks during a visit to the Xiaomi facility in Istanbul, where testing of smartphones is currently underway, according to a statement.

Turkey is aiming to cooperate with the United Kingdom in renewable energy and environmental technologies, Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank has said.

Turkish-German scientist Uğur Şahin, who developed the Pfizer-BioNtech coronavirus vaccine together with his wife Dr. Özlem Türeci, will likely invest in Turkey to establish a medical research center, according to Mustafa Varank, Turkey's industry and technology minister.

Turkish carmaker Karsan has introduced Turkey's first domestically produced driverless electric bus, Karsan Atak Electric.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Feb. 1 attended a test drive of the vehicle.

"Autonomous bus producers will promote Turkey and Turkish brands globally," he said.

Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank was also present at the event.

Turkish scientists are working to start human trials of a locally developed COVID-19 vaccine by the end of January, the country's industry and technology minister has said.

Turkey's industry minister said on Jan. 3 that the decision by Volkswagen to pull out investments from the country was politically motivated.

Mustafa Varank said: "We knew that there were some people who didn't want this [investment in Turkey] politically."

Herbert Diess, CEO of the German carmaker, blamed the ongoing pandemic for their decision.

Turkey is considering joint vaccine production with the Germany-based BioNTech, which has developed a COVID-19 injection together with Pzifer, the country's industry and technology minister has said.

Ankara has already sealed a deal for the procurement of the BioNTech/Pfizer injection.

Six Turkish ministers gathered on Dec. 30 to discuss the country's reform agenda, the host minister said.

Turkey provided 1,009 investment incentive certificates, which pave the way for investments of 25.3 billion Turkish liras and 33,903 new jobs, during the first 11 months of 2020, the industry and technology minister said on Dec. 24. 

In the January-November period, investment demand was 30% more than the same period last year, Mustafa Varank tweeted.