On January 7, Japan and Turkey exchanged documents of agreement on partnership in the disaster prevention sector. Signed by Land Minister of Japan Akihiro Ota and Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Atalay, the documents include cooperation on counteractions against disasters such as earthquake resisting of houses and roads, and prevention of urban floods. A workshop between industry-government-academia of the two countries will be established in April. The ministry, taking this opportunity, intends to promote Japanese companies’ involvement in housing development projects to be planned in Turkey.

Toward the 100th foundation anniversary in 2023, a series of large scaled projects are in pipeline in Turkey. Huge earthquakes that killed more than a thousand people have occurred more frequently than in Japan. The government of Turkey plans to rebuild urban residences of 6.5 million households to quake-resistant houses. (2014/01/08)