The acquisition and development phase of the informatics project is planned to occur over a period of approximately four years with a total new investment cost of about 19,100,000 ECU. As it is noted in Table 1, 3,700,000 ECU of that amount is the local costs of the project to be provided by SIS.

The acquisition and development phase will overlap implementation because multiple projects will be undertaken on somewhat independent schedules. Some of the high pay-off projects will occur early in the schedule. This, of course, will lead to significant benefits during the acquisition and development phase. Because the schedules are only approximate at this point, it is not possible to calculate the actual rate of benefit accrual. Based on an estimated direct benefit of 4.7 million ECU a year, however, the break even point, is expected to be less than five years. If the benefits begin early, as expected, the break-even point should be reached by the year 2002. If the productivity and other improvements resulting from the program continue to compound, significant longer term benefits should be realized, not including indirect benefits to Turkey from general economic development.

Only part of the benefits from this project can be reflected in monetary values that can be approximated. The benefits from quality and productivity improvements within SIS are inestimable. Likewise, the even larger benefits that can accrue in the economic development of Turkey as a result of access to more and better information for planning and decision making are not event touched on in this report.