President Erdoğan: Canal Istanbul will take its place in history as one of Turkey’s most important values

 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a speech at the groundbreaking ceremony of Canal Istanbul Sazlıdere Bridge.

“Today, we are turning a new page in Turkey’s history of development,” President Erdoğan said, noting that a new one is being added today to the steps taken to develop Turkey and strengthen the Turkish nation.

“OUR PRIMARY AIM IS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY OF OUR CITIZENS”

“With Canal Istanbul Project, we primarily aim to ensure the safety of life and property of our citizens at Istanbul Bosporus and its vicinity. We need this project to secure the historical and cultural fabric of the Bosporus as well,” underscored the President, adding that also among the aims of the project are to relieve the maritime traffic, reduce waiting time for ships during entry and exit and overcome the problems caused by the difficulties in cruising at the Bosporus.

“CANAL ISTANBUL WILL EASILY FINANCE ITSELF”

Stating that with the project, Turkey will have a more active role in global trade and get a bigger piece from transportation and logistics corridors in addition to other strategic factors, President Erdoğan said: “The income to be generated from the ships that will pass here and from other elements, first and foremost the port to be built within the project, Canal Istanbul will easily finance itself.”

President Erdoğan further noted: “Canal Istanbul, whose contributions to Turkey are too great to be compared to its project cost, will take its place in history as one of Turkey’s most important values.”