Parliament approves draft law for establishment of joint Turkish-Japanese university

Umut Erdem - ANKARA

A draft law aiming to establish the Turkish-Japanese Science and Technology University in Istanbul, in line with a previously signed agreement between the two countries, has been passed in the Turkish Parliament.

According to the draft, the Treasury will support the joint university every year, which will be exempt from the government’s value-added special consumption taxes.

The law also foresees the establishment of a foundation that will run the university. Accordingly, both the university and the foundation will be exempt from tuition fees as well as corporate income tax, estate tax, revenue stamps, death duty, transfer tax and motor vehicles tax.

The foundation will be able to set up, take over and be party to a commercial enterprise or equity company in Turkey and abroad to realize its targets.

An area in the Sanayi neighborhood in Istanbul’s Pendik district owned by the Treasury will be granted for the use of the university at no cost.

Meanwhile, parliament has given a break to its work until July 15, when it will gather a special agenda to commemorate the first anniversary of last year’s failed military coup attempt. On that day, a number of meetings will be conducted as part of the “15 July Democracy and National Unity Day” at the Grand National Assembly.