AK Party’s Murat Kurum to transform Istanbul into hub for culture, green spaces
Murat Kurum pledges to transform Istanbul into a global metropolis with comprehensive urban, cultural, and environmental initiatives
The ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) Istanbul mayoral candidate for the March 31 elections, Murat Kurum, vowed Thursday that he will help Istanbul claim its place among the prominent cities in the world via city plan, culture and green areas.
At the “Istanbul Vision for Türkiye’s Century” Promotion Meeting hosted by the AK Party, Kurum delivered a heartfelt message. Addressing the attendees, he expressed his profound gratitude, stating, “Today, in this hall, I feel the strength given by the love of those devoted to Istanbul, those who embrace us as if we were their own family, and our friends who stand by us, united in the belief that ‘Istanbul belongs to all of us’.”
Kurum emphasized a forward-looking and optimistic approach in his speech. “Our discussion today will not dwell on problems, but on solutions. We will not entertain despair; instead, we will speak of hope. Together, we will proclaim that now is the time for Istanbul.”
The statement by AK Party’s candidate Kurum outlines a commitment to construct eight patient relatives’ accommodation centers in Istanbul. He emphasized these centers will serve a dual purpose. Firstly, during times of disaster, they will house emergency response teams. Secondly, in normal circumstances, they will provide free accommodation for relatives of patients who struggle to find a place to stay.
The distribution of these centers will be balanced, with four located on each side of the city, ensuring accessibility and convenience for the intended users. This plan reflects a focus on enhancing the city’s disaster response infrastructure while also addressing the needs of residents during more routine times.
Pointing out that only 50 square kilometers are filled with forests in the 5,462 square kilometers (2108.89 square miles) of Istanbul’s coastal strip, which corresponds to 20% of the city, Kurum stressed he will bring blue and green together by creating green areas, walking trails, and bicycle paths on the strip from end to end.
Stressing that his projects will not only focus on city infrastructure but also culture, society, and environment, Kurum indicated he will showcase Istanbul with these aspects and increase its brand value.
WHO IS MURAT KURUM
Local elections come underway across the nation as Türkiye’s ruling AK Party has made official its mayoral candidate for Istanbul. In a campaign-style official ceremony, President Erdogan, announced a member of parliament Kurum, former Minister of Environment and Urbanisation as the state’s favorite for one of the most prestigious seats in office at a municipal level.
Born in 1976 in Ankara, Kurum graduated from Selcuk University’s civil engineering department. He completed his master’s degree in urban transformation.
Between 1999 and 2018, Kurum worked in various private organizations, first serving as a specialist and then later as a manager at TOKI Construction. He was then promoted to a General Manager (GM) and board member position at Emlak Konut, a housing wing of the Turkish state.
Life took on a more serious tone when Kurum made a strategic move up in the world in 2018 when President Erdogan appointed him as Minister of Environment and Urbanisation.
He ensures the construction of 365,000 housing units through the affordable housing campaigns organized by the state and builds 46,000 disaster housing units in cities where major earthquakes rattled the nation in recent times.
He also initiated the construction of 484 national gardens across the country, 39 of which are in Istanbul.
Under Kurum’s tenure, Türkiye has accelerated its steps in the fight against climate change as it ratified the Paris Agreement in October 2021 and pledged to achieve net zero by 2053.
Source: Newsroom
