Folklore artists and traditional athletes from various regions of the Turkic World, as well as Azerbaijan, participated in the festival organized by the Javad Khan History and Culture Foundation with the support of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) in the Sarıyal Khan Highland in the Goygol district.
The opening of the National Highland Festival, the first of which was held in Gadabay in 2019 and the third of which was organized in the Goygol district this year, was marked by significant participation.
The opening ceremony, organized in the Ethno Town consisting of yurts with Turkish motifs, began with greetings from the representative Dede Korkut and Khan of Ganja Javad Khan.
Visitors had the opportunity to explore the highland bazaar, artisans’ corner, khan tent and carpet exhibition, as well as a demonstration of the Turkish martial art “Alpagut”.
Speaking at the festival’s opening, Governor of Goygol İbrahim Mustafayev, expressed his happiness to host this significant event showcasing elements of the great Turkish culture.
In his speech, TİKA’s Coordinator Hayrettin Özçelik noted that TİKA consistently supports activities contributing to the development of cultural relations in the Turkic world.
Following the opening speeches, with the support of TİKA, a rich concert program featured performances by minstrels, folk and traditional national dancers from Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Hungary, Georgia, Romania, Pakistan, Russia and Iran.
The “Pet Clinic”, established within the Rawalpindi Animal Husbandry Directorate by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), was inaugurated.
TİKA’s Vice President, Dr. Ümit Naci Yorulmaz; the President of Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council, Prof. Masood Rabbani; TİKA’s Coordinator in Islamabad, Muhsin Balcı; the Director of the Rawalpindi Animal Husbandry Directorate, Naveed Seher, and the clinic staff attended the opening ceremony of the Rawalpindi Pet Clinic.
Expressing his appreciation with the Pet Clinic, TİKA’s Vice President Yorulmaz highlighted the importance of improving veterinary medical services, not only for animals’ welfare but also for public health.
Yorulmaz said, “Aiming at addressing various health issues faced by pets and providing preventive care, the clinic will contribute to the general health ecosystem.”
The president of Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council, Rabbani stated that the clinic is the first public pet clinic in the twin cities Islamabad and Rawalpindi. He also said, “The clinic will play a critical role in promoting responsible pet ownership and improving the life quality of pets by offering accessible and affordable veterinary services.”
Rabbani expressed that pet owners do not prefer private veterinary clinics that demand high fees to benefit from basic healthcare services. He also noted that there is a serious health risk for pets treated by non-experts instead of authorized private veterinarians, and many animals suffer accidents and injuries every day due to lack of medical care.
Expressing his gratitude to Turkish people for TİKA’s effective projects in animal husbandry, Rabbani stated that the clinic will provide services to an average of 70-80 pets daily in the forthcoming days.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has provided 2 vehicles and search-rescue equipment to the UNACID search and rescue unit, which was part of the team that came to our country from Venezuela during the February 6 earthquakes to support search and rescue efforts.
Vehicles and equipment were delivered to the UNACID (Dog Training and Disaster Intervention Unit) staff by the Republic of Türkiye’s Ambassador to Caracas, Aydan Karamanoğlu and the Head of TİKA’s East and South Asia, Pacific and Latin America Department, Dursun Ali Yaşacan with a ceremony held in the capital, Caracas.
As part of the aid, 2 off-road vehicles and various equipment including technical clothing, a drone, radios and dog travel crates were provided to the team to enable them to arrive at the disaster area rapidly and fully equipped in cases of disasters and emergency responses.
During his speech, Karamonoğlu expressed his appreciation with the dedication shown by the Venezuelan team during the earthquake in our country, and stated that this aid should be appreciated as a token of gratitude. Yaşacan highlighted that the work carried out by the Venezuelan team was invaluable, and thanked them on behalf of the entire Turkish nation.
General Coordinator Marcos Sequera, who participated in search and rescue activities in Türkiye on behalf of the UNACID with his dog Kay, stated that Türkiye is a brother country to them, and the support they provide in difficult times brings the two countries closer to each other.
About the UNACID (Dog Training and Disaster Intervention Unit)
Headquartered in the city of El Tocuyo, UNACID is a civilian and volunteer team consisting of 20 personnel and 7 dogs. The team stands out as the only professional search and rescue team in Venezuela to utilize dogs in its operations.
UNACID not only operates in every state in Venezuela but also responds to international aid calls, functioning as an internationally active organization. The aforementioned team shares its experiences through trainings held in different states of Venezuela to enable to establish new search and rescue teams. The team also raises awareness of new generations and makes them conscious and resilient against disasters through trainings held especially at schools.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has inaugurated two new laboratories in Pakistan.
The Plant Molecular Laboratory, established within the National Tea and High Value Crops Research Institute in Mansehra, and the Building Information Modeling Research Laboratory, established within the Department of Architecture of Hazara University, were put into service with ceremonies.
Plant Molecular Laboratory
The opening of the Plant Molecular Laboratory was attended by TİKA’s Vice President, Dr. Ümit Naci Yorulmaz; the President of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali; TİKA’s Coordinator in Islamabad, Muhsin Balcı; the Director of the Institute, Dr. Basharat Hussain, and the institute staff.
TİKA’s Vice President, Yorulmaz stated that the laboratory is modernly equipped and will enable scientists to conduct in-depth research on the genetic and molecular characteristics of tea and high value crops.
The President of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Ali expressed that the laboratory will increase production as well as providing quality products to the market.
Studies in the fields of nutritional analysis, food safety, quality control, genetic behaviour and tissue regeneration will also be carried out in the laboratory.
Building Information Modeling (BIM) Research Laboratory
TİKA’s Vice President, Dr. Ümit Naci Yorulmaz; the Rector of Hazara University, Mohsan Nawaz; TİKA’s Coordinator in Islamabad, Muhsin Balcı, academic staff and students attended the opening ceremony of the BIM Research Laboratory at Hazara University.
TİKA’s Vice President, Yorulmaz noted that TİKA prioritizes education projects in Pakistan, and aims to increase scientific and academic capacities of universities.
Rector Nawas highlighted that the BIM Research Laboratory has positively affected the architecture programs of the university.
The BIM provides a three-dimensional information sharing system that will be utilized in all steps of architectural projects, from design to construction and maintenance.
TİKA aims to provide significant contributions to both agriculture and education in Pakistan through these two laboratories.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established a vegetable and moringa garden in the Yaloufoiram village of Niger, where 100 women will engage in the production.
Communities residing especially in rural areas of Zinder, one of the regions most affected by acute drought cases in Niger, make their living from agriculture and animal husbandry.
Negatively affected by climate change, Zinder has a large population since it is located on the border with Nigeria and has vital trade routes.
The government of Niger encourages the establishment of agricultural production facilities in the region to meet the nutritional needs of the growing population and to ensure the food security of the region. Women play a significant role in agricultural production processes, as they do in every aspect of life in the country.
Vegetable and moringa production garden
TİKA established a vegetable and moringa production garden for 100 women members of Yaloufoiram Women’s Group, who are engaged in agriculture in the Yaloufoiram village of Dogo, in Zinder, to earn their living, contribute to the supply chain of the region, and to increase agricultural production capacity of the region.
The garden, spanning a total area of 3 hectares, features 2 water wells and a water tank powered by solar energy panels, California-type irrigation systems, material warehouses and necessary agricultural equipment.
The moringa plant, well-known for its rapid growth and high consumption in Niger, is anticipated to generate income in a short period through its industrial production.
The El Hafsia Children Care Complex in Tunisia has been inaugurated following the renovation works of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA).
The El Hafsia Children Care Complex in Tunisia, renovated by TİKA, has been inaugurated. The complex, equipped with a library, media room, music room, robotics classroom and gym, will provide high-quality rehabilitation services to nearly 100 children.
The Tunisian Minister of Family, Women, Children and the Elderly, Amel Belhaj Moussa; Türkiye’s Ambassador to Tunisia, Ahmet Misbah Demircan and TİKA’s Coordinator in Tunisia, Ali Fuat Cebeci attended the opening ceremony of the El Hafsia Children Care Complex in the El Hafsia Neighborhood, one of the oldest residential areas in the center of the capital, Tunis.
Briefing the press after the opening ceremony, Minister Moussa expressed her gratitude to Turkish institutions and TİKA for their support in renovating the care complex. Ambassador Demircan expressed satisfaction with the renovation of the El Hafsia Children Care Complex. He also added that bilateral relations between Türkiye and Tunisia, especially concerning family, women, children and elderly care, will further improve through such social initiatives.
“As TİKA, we support projects aimed at benefiting children and young people”
TİKA’s Coordinator in Tunisia, Cebeci said, “As TİKA, we support projects aimed at benefiting children and young people. The renovation project of the El Hafsia Children Care Complex marks our second collaboration with the Tunisian Ministry of Family. The floor of the complex was completely replaced, along with the kitchen, bathrooms and classrooms. The gym within the complex, now equipped with necessary facilities, was also renovated. I would also like to express my gratitude to the Tunisian Minister of Family, Women, Children and the Elderly, Moussa, for supporting our project and attending our opening ceremony.”
TİKA started its activities in Tunisia in 2012 to improve technical and administrative cooperation between the two countries and support Tunisia’s socio-economic development. TİKA has implemented nearly 250 development and technical cooperation projects across various sectors such as administrative and civil infrastructure development, education, healthcare, culture and agriculture.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established a “Peanut Products Workshop and Training House” to benefit nearly 50 women producing peanuts in the city of Tchadoua, Niger.
Although peanut cultivation is an important source of income in the Maradi region of Niger, most farmers (91%) are forced to sell their products immediately due to a lack of equipment and knowledge, preventing them from converting the peanuts into value-added derivatives. In fact, peanuts, widely consumed across the country, can be preserved for 6 to 8 months after harvest if the necessary conditions are met.
The city of Tchadoua, near the Maradi region, is the largest wholesale peanut market in the area, with significant potential in agricultural trade. Women who attempt to market their crops using traditional production and storage methods face many challenges and cannot compete with larger producers.
TİKA Stands By Women Peanut Producers in Maradi
TİKA established a “Peanut Products Workshop and Training House” for the benefit of nearly 50 women producing peanut in the Darul Mar’a Cooperative in Tchadoua. Thus, these women will be able to receive continuous training for more productive and higher-quality production progress, store their crops for longer periods by using various techniques, and add value to their products by producing various peanut derivatives (peanut oil, peanut paste etc.).
The workshop, which consists of a storage unit, training room and production hangar, is equipped with manufacturing machines used for crushing, shell breaking, oil extraction, sorting, milling, drying, packaging, along with other necessary equipment. Within the scope of the project, trainings in advanced peanut production practices, food processing, entrepreneurship, partnership and cooperatives were also given to 25 young producers.
The project aims to enable women producers to store their crops for longer periods, convert them into new products and access high-quality production methods.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established a “Dental Ceramic and Prosthesis Laboratory” within the Jinnah Dental Hospital in the region of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan.
TİKA’s Vice President, Dr. Ümit Naci Yorulmaz; the Health Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Dr. Nisar Ansar Abdali; TİKA’s Coordinator in Islamabad, Muhsin Balcı and hospital officials attended the opening ceremony held at the Muzaffarabad Jinnah Dental Hospital in the region of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Abdali stated that the hospital in Muzaffarabad is the only dental hospital in the AJK region and provides healthcare services to over 1 million people. He added that thanks to TİKA’s project, they will provide better healthcare services to the people of the region utilising modern, technological equipment.
Reminding everyone that Türkiye was the first country to deliver aid to Pakistan after the earthquake in 2005, Abdali appreciated TİKA’s development projects in the region and thanked the Republic of Türkiye.
700 projects in Pakistan by TİKA
TİKA’s Vice President Yorulmaz expressed that TİKA started its activities in Pakistan in 2010 and has since accomplished approximately 700 projects in various fields such as education, healthcare, agriculture and infrastructure.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) provided equipment to families engaged in beekeeping in the eastern and western regions of North Macedonia.
Within the scope of the “Developing Beekeeping Project,” TİKA provided a total of 300 beehives and necessary equipment to 30 families engaged in beekeeping in Resen, Centar Župa, Plasnica, Drzhilovo, Pagaruša, Radoviš, Negotino, Veles and Gradsko. Technical trainings on beekeeping were also provided to these farmer families.
Equipment was delivered to farmers with a ceremony held in Negotino. TİKA’s Coordinator in Skopje, Mehmet Bayrak, along with farmers engaged in beekeeping and local people attended the delivery ceremony.
Stating that he has recently started beekeeping, a beneficiary İsuf Jakupi said, “My father made great progress in this profession. Today, TİKA provided 10 beehives and various beekeeping equipment along with honey bees. We would like to thank TİKA for their support.”
TİKA’s Coordinator in Skopje, Bayrak noted that TİKA has been implementing projects in many fields in North Macedonia since 2005. Emphasizing the importance of agricultural projects, especially in rural areas, Bayrak said, “Beneficiary families both consume the honey that they produce and contribute to their economy by selling it in the local market.”
The project contributes to local economic development by increasing the production of products such as honey, royal jelly, propolis and bee pollen. The project also enhances assistance and cooperation opportunities among different ethnic groups.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established the “Cezeri Studio” at the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, located in the city of Oluvil.
Inspired by Ismail al-Jazari, the creator of the “Do It Yourself” trend who lived in the 13th century and hailed as “The Father of Robotics” by global authorities, the “Cezeri Studio” has been established in cooperation with TİKA and the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (SEUSL) under the “Science and Technology Education Program (BİTEP)”.
In the Cezeri Studio, equipped with devices such as computers, 3D printers, CNC laser cutting machines, robotic training sets and various mechanical-electronic tools, trainings on 3D design, robotic coding and device usage were given to 13 academicians and 5 students from engineering, technology faculties and IT departments. The training lasted for two weeks and was conducted by experts assigned by TİKA.
During the training sessions, participants gained skills in 3D design, the usage of 3D printers, some various manufacturing techniques along with developing electro-mechanical projects.
18 participants who successfully completed the training program received their certificates at the ceremony.
The Vice Rector of the SEUSL, Prof. Dr. A. Rameez and the Dean of the Technology Faculty, Dr. UL. Abdul Majeed, who attended the certificate ceremony, expressed their satisfaction with the establishment of the Cezeri Studio within their university.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established a biology laboratory at the Agricultural High School, opened in 2023 within the Mongolia Agricultural University.
In 2023, the Agricultural High School was established within the Mongolia Agricultural University to contribute to the training of qualified people in the field of agriculture in Mongolia. TİKA established a modernly equipped biology laboratory in the newly opened high school to support students who receive only theoretical education due to the lack of equipment.
As part of the project, the laboratory was equipped with various instruments such as plant growth cabinets, digital microscopes, biological microscopes, stereo microscopes, test tubes, soil moisture, temperature and mineral measuring devices, plant lamps and analytical balances.
The Principal of the Agricultural High School, Tsolmonbaatar Tserendejid expressed his gratitude to TİKA and the Turkish nation for the laboratory they established, and underlined that TİKA completed the project rapidly and effectively. Emphasizing the importance of applied biology courses, Principal Tserendejid stated that this laboratory could be utilized in both biology and chemistry courses.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) renovated Bir Hassan Tourism Vocational High School Practice Hotel in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, and provided the necessary equipment.
With nearly 400 students enrolled, Bir Hassan Tourism Vocational High School provides education in various fields, especially tourism and hotel management. 17 rooms and common areas of the hotel, which were previously unused, were renovated and equipped to meet modern standards.
Thanks to TİKA’s support, the renovated hotel will not only provide an additional source of income for the school’s activities, but also allow students to receive practical training.
Located in the neighborhood of Bir Hassan and close to hospitals, the practice hotel will also meet the accommodation needs of patients’ relatives, Lebanese citizens and tourists.
