PodcastErdoğan's son-in-law Bayraktar backs mass production of ventilators
A group of Turkish firms have collaborated to undertake the domestic mass production of ventilators, which are critical in treating COVID-19. One of these firms is Baykar, a company co-owned by Selçuk Bayraktar, the son-in-law of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
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A group of Turkish firms have collaborated to launch the mass production of ventilators for the Health Ministry's use amid coronavirus outbreak.
One of these firms is the unmanned aerial vehicle producer Baykar, of which Selçuk Bayraktar -- the son-in-law of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan -- is the chief technology officer.
Bayraktar said on Twitter that the device was designed by the Turkish technology venture BİOSYS and produced by the household appliances manufacturer Arçelik.
He said that engineers of defense giant Aselsan and Baykar have also provided technical support for the project.
He also posted a video that shows engineers presenting the prototype of the device.
Yerli solumun cihazımızın seri üretim ilk deneme prototipi...@biyovent tasarladı, @arcelik üretti, @aselsan ve @baykar_savunma mühendislerinin teknik destek ve katkılarıyla...#BirlikteBaşaracağız #MilliTeknolojiHamlesi ?? pic.twitter.com/bGPHpxaIIX
— Selçuk Bayraktar (@Selcuk) March 30, 2020
Turkey's move to undertake large-scale production of hospital ventilators was made public by Health Minister Fahrettin Koca last week.
“We’re starting the mass production of domestic ventilator devices,” Fahrettin Koca told reporters on March 23, after an hours-long meeting of a committee tackling the coronavirus outbreak.