Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has provided medical devices and health equipment to the Zeta Emergency Health Center in Montenegro’s Zeta region. A ceremony was held to present the upgraded equipment and officially inaugurate the center.
The event was attended by Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister, Milun Zogović; Minister of Health, Vojislav Šimun; Türkiye’s Ambassador to Montenegro, Barış Kalkavan; Member of the Montenegrin Parliament, Milan Knežević; Mayor of Zeta, Mihailo Asanović; General Director of the Montenegro Emergency Health Directorate, Nik Vuković; Manager of the Montenegrin Health Insurance Fund, Vuk Kadić; TİKA’s Coordinator in Podgorica, Nihal Ersoy; and many other distinguished guests.
Speaking at the ceremony, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Montenegro, Barış Kalkavan, highlighted the strong historical and friendly ties between Türkiye and Montenegro, emphasizing their commitment to enhancing cooperation in the healthcare sector. Ambassador Kalkavan expressed his satisfaction that TİKA’s support with medical devices and health equipment would help strengthen Zeta’s healthcare infrastructure, enabling faster and more effective responses in emergency situations.
Montenegrin Health Minister Vojislav Šimun expressed gratitude to Türkiye and TİKA, noting that this contribution would significantly improve access to healthcare for the local population. Minister Šimun also stated that the equipment provided by TİKA would enhance the quality of emergency health services in the region.
Zeta Mayor Mihailo Asanović and General Director of the Montenegro Emergency Health Directorate Niković also spoke at the opening ceremony, expressing their gratitude for the support provided by Türkiye, a friendly nation, through TİKA.
As part of the assistance, modern medical devices, patient transport stretchers, and various other healthcare equipment were supplied to the Zeta Emergency Health Center. This support is expected to enable the center to deliver more timely and effective services to the residents of the region.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established an agricultural laboratory at the Faculty of Agriculture of Farah State University, one of Afghanistan’s premier educational institutions. The laboratory was also equipped with essential chemicals and modern equipment to support its operations.
A delivery ceremony for the equipment was held at the newly completed laboratory on the university campus, attended by administrative staff and students.
The university administration emphasized the immense value of TİKA’s support. Academics and students alike noted that the provided equipment would greatly enhance agricultural research and practical applications.
The laboratory equipment includes 59 different devices, such as a magnetic stirrer, microwave oven, hydrometer, thermometer, spray pump, electric saw, pH meter, titrator, plant growth chamber, seed counter, and UV-Vis spectrophotometer.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), in collaboration with local civil society organizations (NGOs), has provided humanitarian aid to 160 families in need, including orphans and widows in Ghouta, Medyara, and Beit Sawa—suburbs of Damascus that have suffered years of heavy attacks and oppression during the Syrian civil war.
The aid packages, primarily consisting of dry food items, were distributed to civilians in these regions, which had endured prolonged sieges and intense bombardment by the regime. This relief effort was made possible through the joint efforts of TİKA and local NGOs.
The families who received aid expressed gratitude to Türkiye, TİKA, and the local NGOs involved for their support and voiced their hope for the continuation of similar humanitarian efforts.
TİKA remains steadfast in its commitment to providing aid to civilians affected by the humanitarian crisis in Syria.
The assistance provided by TİKA in collaboration with local NGOs is regarded as part of Türkiye’s broader humanitarian diplomacy efforts in the region.
The opening ceremony for the new regional studio of the Montenegrin National Radio and Television Corporation (RTCG), equipped with state-of-the-art technology provided by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), was held in Bijelo Polje.
The event was attended by the Turkish Ambassador to Montenegro, Barış Kalkavan; Bijelo Polje Mayor, Petar Smolović; RTCG executives; TİKA’s Coordinator in Podgorica, Nihal Ersoy; and numerous guests.
Speaking at the ceremony, Turkish Ambassador to Montenegro Barış Kalkavan highlighted TİKA’s significant contributions to Montenegro across various sectors, including education, health, agriculture, and media. Kalkavan remarked, “Through TİKA’s training programs in the media sector, 80 media professionals have been supported so far. This new studio will greatly benefit the people of the region and provide significant momentum to Montenegro’s media sector.”
Bijelo Polje Mayor Petar Smolović expressed his gratitude to TİKA, emphasizing that the studio is a valuable asset not only for Bijelo Polje but for the entire northern region of Montenegro. Smolović stated, “This studio presents an important opportunity for both the local community and the media sector.”
Broadcasting at international standards
RTCG General Manager Boris Raonić emphasized that the studio was designed to meet international standards, stating “This new support will further enhance our broadcast quality. Modern equipment will enable us to deliver higher-quality content to our viewers.”
Following the ceremony, attendees toured the studio and were briefed on the technical equipment provided through TİKA’s support. The new studio is anticipated to make a substantial contribution to the development of the media sector in northern Montenegro and to advance quality broadcasting standards in the region.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has established vocational training facilities at the Sindh Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center to help autistic children prepare for life and serve as a foundation for further education.
The inauguration of the renovated vocational training areas, equipped with furniture and electronic hardware as part of the project, was attended by Dursun Ali Yaşacan, Head of TİKA’s East and South Asia, Pacific and Latin America (DOGAL) Department; and Cemal Sangu, Turkish Consul General in Karachi.
After the opening ceremony, Department Head Dursun Ali Yaşacan remarked that TİKA develops projects worldwide to improve the lives of disadvantaged groups and to support them in meaningful ways. He expressed his satisfaction in contributing to an institute that carries out such impactful work.
Turkish Consul General Cemal Sangu noted that he had visited all the institute’s units and witnessed firsthand the effectiveness and success of its services. He emphasized that TİKA had chosen the ideal institution for implementing this project. Sangu extended his gratitude to TİKA for its efforts and to the institute’s officials for providing valuable services to Pakistan.
1 in 100 children have autism
Highlighting the rapidly growing number of individuals with autism worldwide, Department Head Dr. Irum Rizwan stated that one in every 100 children in Pakistan is diagnosed with autism. She emphasized the institute’s dedication to supporting these special children and helping them adapt to everyday life. Dr. Rizwan also expressed her gratitude to TİKA for its valuable contributions.
As the first training hospital for autistic children in Pakistan, the institute provides rehabilitation and vocational training services to approximately 150 children daily through its Autism, Special Education and Vocational Training Department. In addition to fostering motor development and teaching essential daily life skills, the department offers vocational training in areas such as handicrafts, lamination, and cooking. It also serves as a training center for academics and students.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has established a media and education studio at the century-old NED University of Engineering and Technology in Karachi, Pakistan.
Created in collaboration with TİKA and NED University, the studio—named the Pak-Türkiye Media Centre—will facilitate online education and diploma programs in various media-related fields. The studio was inaugurated with a ceremony attended by numerous guests.
The opening ceremony of the project was attended by Cemal Sangu, Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Karachi; Dursun Ali Yaşacan, Head of TİKA’s East and South Asia, Pacific and Latin America Department; Dr. Sarosh Hashmat Lodhi, Rector of NED University; Halil İbrahim Başaran, TİKA’s Coordinator in Karachi; and numerous guests from Türkiye and Pakistan.
In his remarks at the ceremony, Consul General Sangu highlighted the deep historical roots of the friendship between Türkiye and Pakistan, which spans centuries. He expressed confidence that the Pak-Türkiye Media Centre, established by TİKA, will play a vital role in furthering and strengthening this enduring bond.
Dursun Ali Yaşacan, Head of TİKA’s East and South Asia, Pacific and Latin America Department, stated in his speech that TİKA has implemented significant media projects in Pakistan and many other countries across the world. He expressed satisfaction in providing a modern studio to Pakistan’s century-old NED University, which will serve various purposes.
NED University Rector Dr. Sarosh Hashmat Lodhi shared that they had long envisioned a studio for online and distance education. He expressed his profound gratitude to TİKA for its invaluable contribution in bringing this dream to fruition.
Following the speeches, the ceremonial ribbon was cut, officially inaugurating the Pak-Türkiye Media Centre. The center’s first live broadcast featured Consul General Sangu, Department Head Yaşacan, NED University Rector Dr. Lodhi, Vice Rector Dr. Tufail, and TİKA’s Coordinator in Karachi Başaran as guests.
In addition to supporting distance and online education, the Pak-Türkiye Media Centre will offer diploma programs in various fields, including studio equipment operation and film production.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) restored abandoned historical structures in the city of Hebron, Palestine and repurposed them for the benefit of the Palestinian people.
Hebron, the largest city in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and one of the oldest settlements in the Eastern Mediterranean, holds religious and historical significance for Muslims, Christians, and Jews alike.
The restored site, comprising three houses and a neighborhood, was renovated through a collaboration between TİKA and the Hebron Zoning Committee. The project was inaugurated with a ceremony attended by Palestinian Minister of Culture, Emad Hamdan; TİKA’s Coordinator in Palestine, Orhan Aydın; Hebron Zoning Committee officials, and local residents.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Hamdan emphasized the universal responsibility to protect shared historical and cultural heritage. He expressed his gratitude to TİKA, the Republic of Türkiye, and the Turkish people for their continued support and numerous projects undertaken in Hebron.
TİKA’s previous restoration efforts in Hebron include the Takiat Ibrahim Hospice, the renewal of carpets in the Al-Ibrahimi Mosque, and the preservation of several historic buildings surrounding the mosque.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) provided medical equipment to support the intensive care unit of Herat Regional Hospital, which serves the western provinces of Afghanistan.
The equipment delivery ceremony, organized by TİKA, was attended by TİKA’s Coordinator in Herat, Arafat Deniz; Herat Regional Hospital Director, Muhammed İbrahim Enis; and several doctors.
Speaking at the ceremony; TİKA’s Coordinator in Herat, Arafat Deniz explained that the project was initiated following discussions with the Provincial Health Directorate and hospital authorities to strengthen healthcare services. Deniz noted that the equipment provided for the intensive care unit included five patient beds, five bedside monitors, one ventilator, one aspirator, five laryngoscopes, and a three-probe echo device.
Deniz emphasized TİKA’s commitment to prioritizing health and education and assured that such support would continue in the future.
In his remarks; Herat Regional Hospital Director, Muhammed İbrahim Enis highlighted the high quality of the equipment provided by TİKA, particularly emphasizing the significance of the echo device. Director Enis stated: “We did not previously have a three-probe echo device in our intensive care unit. Addressing this shortfall and enhancing our unit’s capacity to treat life-threatening cases with the additional equipment has been an invaluable support. We extend our heartfelt thanks to TİKA and Türkiye for these contributions.”
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has established a state-of-the-art education and control greenhouse at Sindh Agricultural University Tandojam, Pakistan’s oldest and most esteemed agricultural institution. The greenhouse is equipped with advanced technology and powered by a renewable solar energy system.
The opening ceremony of the project was attended by TİKA officials, university representatives, and numerous guests.
Speaking at the event, TİKA’s Department Head Dursun Ali Yaşacan highlighted TİKA’s significant contributions to agricultural development in Pakistan and across the globe. He expressed his satisfaction in delivering a cutting-edge greenhouse to Sindh Agricultural University, emphasizing its role as Pakistan’s leading institution in agricultural education and research.
“We want to benefit from Türkiye’s valuable experience”
The Rector of Sindh Agricultural University, Dr. Fateh Marri, expressed pride in the continued collaboration with TİKA, which began in 2022 and now includes the modern greenhouse project. Highlighting the opportunity to observe Türkiye’s advancements in agriculture firsthand, Marri emphasized their desire to leverage this expertise.
He extended his gratitude to TİKA and Türkiye, through Department Head Dursun Ali Yaşacan, for their contributions toward ensuring food security.
Following the speeches, TİKA officials, university representatives, and guests proceeded to the project site to inaugurate the greenhouse. The opening ceremony, conducted with prayers, was followed by a tour of the greenhouse, during which President Yaşacan and Rector Marri received briefings on the ongoing academic initiatives.
Collaboration with Sindh Agricultural University
Since 2022, TİKA and Sindh Agricultural University have collaborated on various projects. These include the distribution of wheat seeds to Pakistani farmers affected by floods and in 2023, the provision of home farming kits to women in Karachi’s Lyari district, the most populous area in Pakistan.
The education and control greenhouse established by TİKA, equipped with an advanced electronic system, is set to enhance public agricultural education, promote the adoption of innovative technologies, and support the university’s academic research initiatives.
The “Social and Life Adaptation Center for Disabled Individuals,” established by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) in Aktau, Kazakhstan, has officially begun operations with an opening ceremony.
The ceremony, held in the port city of Aktau on the Caspian Sea coast, was attended by TİKA’s Vice President, Dr. Ümit Naci Yorulmaz; Mangystau Regional Deputy Governor, Abbat Urisbayev; Aktau Governor, Abilkair Baipakov; Aktau Consul General, Sabri Alptekin; TİKA’s Coordinator in Astana, Hikmet Özdenoğlu; and Director of the “Kazakhstan Active Rehabilitation” Disabled Center, Ruslan Gaybatov.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mangystau Regional Deputy Governor Abbat Urisbayev highlighted the center’s significant role in facilitating the integration of disabled individuals into social life. Aktau Governor Abilkair Baipakov expressed confidence that the center would deliver high-quality social and life adaptation services to disabled individuals and extended his gratitude to TİKA and Türkiye for their support.
TİKA’s Vice President Dr. Ümit Naci Yorulmaz underscored that the center represents the beginning of a series of projects planned for the region. He noted that since 1995, TİKA has implemented numerous impactful projects in Kazakhstan in the fields of education, health, agriculture, and cultural cooperation. Yorulmaz also affirmed that initiatives fostering the strong friendship between the two countries would continue to expand.
Accessible living spaces for individuals with disabilities
The center, equipped with essential tools and facilities to support daily living, features spaces such as a kitchen, work area, and bedroom. Designed to overcome the daily challenges faced by individuals with disabilities, the center enables them to live independently in a supportive environment tailored to their needs. It was specifically created to aid the social adaptation process and enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
With the capacity to accommodate 800 individuals, the center aims to promote their active participation in social life and improve their overall well-being.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) renovated the library, educational facilities, and administrative offices of the Turkish Language and Literature Department at Saints Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia. Additionally, TİKA provided essential equipment to support the department’s operations.
The opening ceremony of the project was attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Skopje, Fatih Ulusoy; TİKA’s Vice President, Dr. Mahmut Çevik; Dean of the Blaže Koneski Faculty of Philology, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Martinovski; Head of the Turkish Language and Literature Department, Prof. Dr. Osman Emin; MATÜSİTEB President, Tahsin İbrahim; North Macedonian Members of Parliament, political party representatives, numerous academics, poets, Turkologists, students, and representatives of Turkish institutions and organizations in the country.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Ulusoy emphasized the indispensable role of the Turkish language for Turks, stating that where there is no Turkish, Turks cannot breathe. He expressed gratitude to everyone involved in teaching Turkish, reaffirming Türkiye’s unwavering support for North Macedonia. Ambassador Ulusoy also expressed hope to celebrate future successes and proud moments of the Turkology Department together.
TİKA’s Vice President Çevik highlighted TİKA’s significant contributions to advancing and promoting the Turkish language and Turkology globally. He noted that TİKA has implemented over 500 projects dedicated to Turkology to date.
Highlighting their ongoing commitment to the development of the Turkish language in the region, Çevik stated: “We have implemented approximately 122 Turkology projects across the Balkans and Eastern Europe. These projects include the renovation and equipping of Turkology departments, educational initiatives, the provision and support of teaching materials, pedagogical training programs for educators, and the exchange of expertise.”
Blaže Koneski Faculty of Philology Dean Martinovski expressed gratitude for the support provided to enhance and modernize the Turkology Department. He remarked, “I hope Turkology will continue to grow within our university and that this growth will be achieved in collaboration with all universities where Turkology is taught.”
Thanks to the project completed by TİKA, Turkology Department students now have access to a modernized and fully renovated learning environment, enabling them to pursue their studies under improved conditions.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) provided equipment support to Nursery No. 0289 of the Border Protection Unit to offer preschool education opportunities for the children of employees working 1,800 kilometers away from Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar. The nursery serves children between the ages of 2 and 5.
As part of a joint initiative by the Mongolian Ministry of Justice and Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Science, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, nurseries for the children of state employees working in border areas have begun to open. In this context, a nursery with a capacity for 25 children was constructed in 2024 to address the social challenges faced by security personnel at Border Protection Unit No. 0285 and to provide preschool education for their children. However, the nursery’s opening was delayed due to budgetary constraints.
Through the project implemented by TİKA, preschool education materials aligned with educational standards, kitchen equipment, and bedding were provided, facilitating the official opening of the nursery.
The project aims to enhance preschool education infrastructure in rural areas and ensure that children in these regions have access to preschool education services.
Colonel Hürelsüh Battör, Commander of Border Protection Directorate No. 0285, expressed his gratitude, stating that the project enables soldiers and other personnel assigned to border protection duties to work without concern, knowing their children have access to a nursery. He extended his thanks to TİKA and the Turkish people on behalf of all border guards.
