The importance of the northeastern provinces of Turkey in international trade and tourism is increasing.
This was stated by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the opening ceremony of a number of highways and a tunnel in the Rize province.
The head of state stressed that a developed transport infrastructure is the key to the development of the country’s Black Sea region.
Erdogan noted that over the 19 years of his rule, the Justice and Development Party (AKP), the number of road tunnels in Turkey has increased from 83 to 447, and the number of shipyards has increased from 37 to 84.
The list of industrial zones in Turkey during this period has grown from 192 to 325. In addition, 79 technoparks have been created, the president said.
The head of state also drew attention to the successful efforts to develop the country’s military-industrial complex, as well as to the anti-terrorist operations of the Turkish army, which “destroyed plans to create a zone controlled by terrorists in Syria.”
The President further noted that natural disasters of recent months have not spared the north-east of the country. “At the moment, steps are being taken to eliminate damage from forest fires, floods and mudflows,” he said.
