Technological partnership between Izmir and Istanbul

With the opening of the 93rd Izmir International Fair held this year under the theme of “technology”, a technological partnership between the honored guest city of Istanbul and Izmir has also begun. The cooperation protocol prepared for carrying out joint technology projects between Izmir Metropolitan Municipality’s Izmir Technology and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s ISBAK was signed by Izmir Metropolitan Mayor Cemil Tugay and Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Mayor Tugay stated that the steps to be taken in the field of science and technology are very important not only for Izmir and Istanbul but also for Turkey.

Izmir Metropolitan Mayor Cemil Tugay hosted Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who attended the 93rd opening of the Izmir International Fair (IEF), where the honored guest province is Istanbul and the theme is “Technology”. During the meeting, a cooperation protocol was signed between Izmir Innovation and Technology Inc. (Izmir Technology), a subsidiary of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, and Istanbul Information and Smart City Technologies Inc. (ISBAK), a subsidiary of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Metropolitan Mayors Tugay and İmamoğlu delivered important messages at the signing ceremony held at the Izmir Technology stand in Kültürpark for the protocol that will enable the widespread of existing technological products in both parties through mutual know-how transfer.

“We continue to move forward in the structuring of Izmir Technology”

Izmir Metropolitan Mayor Tugay said, “Our Mayor Ekrem has always drawn everyone’s attention since his tenure as the Mayor of Beylikdüzü. Especially, with the works he did in Istanbul last term, he has gained great appreciation from everyone who follows not only in Turkey but also in the world. I personally experienced his generosity in sharing his knowledge when I was the Mayor of Karşıyaka. I know that other cities also benefit from his experiences. This term, as the President of the Union of Turkish Municipalities, he has repeatedly stated that he is ready to help all municipalities in Turkey. We consider ourselves lucky because we know that he loves Izmir and gives it special importance. I have stated that our Izmir Innovation and Technology company will be structured in the fields of smart cities, artificial intelligence, and data engineering, and we continue on this path.”

“We need to do more than just talk”

Expressing that this cooperation is important not only for Istanbul and Izmir but for Turkey, Mayor Tugay said, “On behalf of the people I represent, I would like to express my gratitude to the people of Izmir. Much more can be said, but perhaps we need to do more than just talk and show by doing. Everything we do is aimed at addressing the problems of our people, creating a better environment for our country, and solving our people’s problems. While sharing the results of this protocol, I will remind them that we made such an agreement that day, and that is why these things are happening. I wish it to be beneficial.”

“We will enter a very effective period between Istanbul and Izmir”

Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor İmamoğlu stated, “We are experiencing a very intense exchange of information and experience between Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Izmir Metropolitan Municipality. I hope this term will bring much stronger services to both our Istanbul and Izmir. Here today, we are taking an important step not only for our two cities but also for Turkey in terms of technology and innovation climate. The cooperation protocol we will sign between Izmir Technology and ISBAK carries great significance for the future of our cities as well as for today. With this protocol, we aim to bring together the power of technology, our knowledge base, and our innovative solutions to highlight Istanbul and Izmir among the smart cities of the future and to elevate Turkey to a very important position internationally. The collaboration between two significant cities like Istanbul and Izmir in this field will also accelerate Turkey’s capacity to produce technology and its digital transformation process. The presence of Istanbul as the honored guest city at the 93rd Izmir International Fair also adds special meaning to this collaboration. I would like to thank our valuable Cemil Tugay and his team for hosting us at this beautiful fair. This protocol, which overlaps with the fair’s technology theme, opens the doors to a great vision for both Izmir and Istanbul while strengthening the ties between the two cities.”

Turkey’s Izmir and Istanbul hand in hand

In the established Izmir-Istanbul partnership, it is aimed to carry out joint events, studies, research, and projects between companies. The goal is to develop all kinds of scientific, technological, social, and cultural cooperation and to establish concrete and sustainable foundations for these studies. The existing technology products in both parties will also be disseminated through mutual know-how transfer. The collaboration between two significant cities like Istanbul and Izmir in this area will accelerate Turkey’s capacity to produce technology and its digital transformation process. Every step taken in the field of science and technology will contribute to Turkey achieving a stronger position on the world stage. The cooperation protocol aims to develop sustainable and innovative projects across a wide spectrum, from smart city technologies to digital infrastructures, and will provide solutions that touch the lives of the public. It will open new paths for cities to achieve a better future in every field, not just in the field of technology.