ESIS Extension / Turkey / IS Promotional Activities / Update Memo 3

The main promotional event of this period was Bilisim 99 (Informatics Conference and Fair 99), which is the biggest yearly IT event in Turkey.

Several other conferences and symposia were held in this period, including the Electromagnetic Pollution Symposium (November 11, 1999, Ankara), the 5^th Internet in Turkey Conference (November 18-21, 1999, Ankara), and the International Symposium on Computer and Information Sciences (September 18-20, 1999, Izmir).

Other promotional activities include the publication of monthly update reports on the Y2K problem by the State Planning Organisation, publication of the report identifying the top 500 IT companies, the organisation of an information day on IST and EUMEDIS programs of the European Commission.

Of particular interest are the speeches of the Minister of Transportation concerning the third GSM license, which will be issued early in the year 2000.

The main promotional event of this period was Bilisim 99 (Informatics Conference and Fair 99), which is the biggest yearly IT event in Turkey. Bilisim 99 was originally scheduled to take place in September 1999, but it was postponed to December 1999 due to the Earthquake. Bilisim series include an IT fair attracting over 100000 people, several conferences and workshops, many keynote speeches and many company presentations. The Turkish-Greek I.S. Forum organised by Turkish Informatics Foundation was of particular interest this year.

Other promotional activities include the publication of some reports including the monthly update reports on the Y2K problem by the State Planning Organisation and the report identifying the top 500 IT companies published by Interpro.

The Electronic Commerce Coordination Committee, which is a committee of the Undersecretary of Foreign Trade, held its first meeting since the formation of the government after the last national elections.

An information day on IST and EUMEDIS programs of the European Commission was organised jointly by TUBITAK and Turkish Informatics Foundation.

Turkish Informatics Association became a member of CEPIS, which is the association of the European informatics societies.

Aside from the monthly update reports on the Y2K problem introduced by the State Planning Organisation, the Ministry of Industry and Trade prepared a government decision to protect consumers against the Y2K problem. The decision considers the Y2K problem as a defect in goods and keeps the manufacturers responsible for the lost or damage caused by the Y2K problem.

Several regulatory measures are being taken by the government and several draft laws are prepared, including a draft law on telecommunication regulation, a draft law to establish National Information Security Organisation, a draft law expanding the responsibilities of Capital Market Council to the transactions done in electronic medium, and a draft law related to the Higher Council of Banking.

The Information Technologies Group of the Grand National Assembly held a meeting in Ankara where experts discussed some IT related issues such as taking measures for promoting the use of F keyboard (as opposed to Q) in the country.

A catalogue of IT companies and services was prepared by Interpro. The catalogue also includes web sites.

Some leading industrial groups and media groups make agreements to form consortia or enterprises to start operation in the ICT market. Of particular interest is the recent agreement between Dogan Media Group, which is the leading media group owning the leading national newspapers Hurriyet and Milliyet and leading national TV channels Kanal D and CNN Turk, the Cukurova Group, which is a leading industrial group and the owner of the leading national bank Yapi Kredi and the leading ISP Superonline, and Siemens, to start an enterprise called DIGITURK to operate in the field of Digital TV.

Of particular interest are the speeches of the Minister of Transportation concerning the third GSM license, which will be issued early in the year 2000.

Please note that this report has been prepared under the sole responsibility of the ESIS II contractors.
It does not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission, nor does the Commission accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of information contained herein.
The ESIS Team of contractors welcomes any additional information or corrections.