Turkish technology minister: Turkey aims to set the standarts

Turkish Minister of Science, Industry & Technology Nihat Ergun explained Turkey's key goal as being a country which set the international standards. Speaking at a meeting of Turkish Standards Institute (TSE), Ergun said, "Turkey has lost plenty of time trying to comply with the standards set by others", adding that Turkey must rather work towards being the country which set the standards. Ergun highlighted Turkey's significant progress in standardization-based production since 1980s as the rate rose from 20 percent to 80 percent as of 2010. Arguing that leading countries had leading institutes,Ergun pointed that Turkey must be more visible in international platform of standardization with its leading institute TSE, with its motto "one standard, one document, one test". Also speaking at the meeting, Yemeni and Sudanese standardization officials praised Turkey's role and efforts to assist other countries by sharing its experience in standardization, and described trade as the driving force of stability of politics and welfare of societies. Commenting on the latest industrial production figures announced by Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK), Ergun said, "considering the data of the first quarter, we can say Turkey is making its way to reach the 4 percent growth rate aimed for 2013."