We reported back in December that Apple CEO Tim Cook would be meeting with Turkey’s President Abdullah Gül to personally discuss a possible iPad deal worth over $4 billion. That meeting was scheduled to take place this morning.
Continuing a mini world tour that has seen meetings with two heads of state in as many days, Cook and an accompanying delegation will next visit Turkish President Abdullah Gül on Tuesday, Feb. 4. The announcement was made on Monday via the president’s official webpage.
It’s believed the two men will discuss Turkey’s “FATIH Project,” an initiative to replace traditional classroom tools with advanced technology, such as Apple’s iPad.
The initial phase of the initiative reportedly includes the purchase of 10.6 million tablets, with an option to purchase an additional 2 to 2.5 million units over a four-year period. The total cost of the plan is estimated to fall in between $2 and $4 billion.
Cook’s visit to Turkey coincides with the opening of that country’s first Apple Store. The 21,500 sq. ft. location is located in Istanbul’s Zorlu Center.
