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October 30, 2025 - GTU Office of Press and Public Relations UFEST – Transportation Festival, which shapes the future of transportation technologies, begins at Gebze Technical University.
Gebze Technical University (GTU) is hosting the UFEST – Transportation Festival, one of Türkiye’s largest events in the field of transportation technologies. Featuring the latest innovations in land, air, sea, and rail transport and bringing together leading experts in the field, the event has kicked off with great participation at the GTU Congress and Cultural Center.
The opening ceremony was attended by Osman Boyraz, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Türkiye; Hasan Soba, Deputy Mayor of Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality; GTU Rector Prof. Hacı Ali Mantar; Metin Kubilay, District Governor of Dilovası; Muzaffer Bıyık, Mayor of Darıca; Abdurrahman Aslantaş, President of Gebze Chamber of Commerce; ministry officials; academics; students; and members of the press. The ceremony began with a moment of silence and the singing of the National Anthem.
Deputy Minister Boyraz: “Türkiye Is Building Its Future Through the Vision of Its Youth” In his speech, Deputy Minister Osman Boyraz highlighted Türkiye’s strategic position and the pivotal role of transportation projects in national development. He stated, “Türkiye is a unique bridge located at the crossroads of East and West. All major corridors must pass through Türkiye.”
Emphasizing his strong confidence in young people, Boyraz said, “You, the youth, are the ones truly worthy of recognition. Our duty is to pave the way for you and listen to your ideas.”
Boyraz also touched upon environmentally-friendly and technology-driven initiatives, noting that major projects such as the Development Road and Zangezur Corridor will transform Türkiye into a regional logistics hub. Boyraz further emphasized that smart transportation systems and 5G technologies are bringing sustainability and efficiency to infrastructure development.
Reminding that he is a GTU graduate, Boyraz concluded his remarks by saying, “This place is my home. Türkiye’s future will rise in the hands of young people educated here.”
Rector Prof. Hacı Ali Mantar: “We Have Achieved Great Progress in Transportation Thanks to Our National Technologies” In his opening address, GTU Rector Prof. Hacı Ali Mantar expressed that the festival held special meaning for him and shared insights from his personal experience in the transportation sector.
Rector Mantar drew attention to the significant progress Türkiye has made in transportation technologies over the past 20–25 years, emphasizing that systems once developed only by foreign countries are now being produced domestically: “In the 1990s, signaling systems could only be developed by Russia and Japan. Back then, we could not engineer these systems ourselves; we could only operate them. Today, we are successfully producing national signaling systems, electric locomotives, and radar technologies. This represents a major transformation in our country’s transportation ecosystem.”
He also underlined that transportation projects not only bear a technical dimension but also an impact strengthening the national technology ecosystem: “Technological advancements in one area can be applied to others. Experience gained in radar systems contributes to signaling technologies, and the knowledge accumulated in transportation supports developments in defense and communication technologies.”
As part of the program, four students who registered by filling out the participation form received Eastern Express tickets as gifts.
Throughout the festival, which sheds light on the future of transportation technologies, participants will enjoy a rich program featuring booths from leading industry representatives, as well as seminars, workshops, and exhibitions offering a comprehensive experience. |
