Greentech Lead India: India and Turkey have agreed to enhance their cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy. This follows the meeting between Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz and Farooq Abdullah, Minister of New and Renewable Energy, India, at Ankara.
Abdullah’s Turkey visit aims to explore opportunities for cooperation and collaboration between Indian and Turkey on renewable energy. Dr. Abdullah briefed his counterpart on the energy situation in India and India’s plans to add over 30 GW of renewable energy to its energy mix in the next 5 years.
Ankara is also planning to diversify its energy mix by introducing a large component of renewables. The country has considerable potential in wind, hydro, solar and geothermal energy. It’s imperative for Turkey to turn to renewable energy as it imports over 90 percent of its oil, gas and fossil fuel requirement.
Yildiz expressed the Turkish government’s desire to set up large generating as well as manufacturing capacities in renewable energy sources, particularly wind and solar. Abdullah offered India’s support and expertise to Turkey in setting up projects in wind, solar and hydropower.
Abudlla also offered training slots in India to Turkish scientists, engineers and technicians through the ITEC programme .
The Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) and the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSCON) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) later organized business seminars where business delegations from both countries deliberated in detail on the opportunities and prospects of renewable energy in Turkey.
Both sides identified specific areas of scientific cooperation and possibilities of participation in renewable energy projects and investment opportunities.