Ömer Bolat, Türkiye’s Minister of Trade, warned that “winds of protectionism are rising in global trade. Customs duties are being rapidly increased and turned into key instruments of trade wars. In this context, we are striving to build stronger alliances with our trade partners.”
Speaking at the “Leaders of Exports Award Ceremony” organized by the Gebze Chamber of Commerce at the Gebze Technical University Congress Center, Bolat stated that Kocaeli accounts for nearly 12.5% of Türkiye’s total exports with 35 billion dollars in exports.
Bolat noted that Türkiye’s exports increased by 4.4% last year to reach USD 273.5 billion, adding that 33 provinces exceeded USD 1 billion export threshold in goods exports, while 44 provinces increased their export performance.
Emphasizing that exports mean investment, production, employment, tax revenues, and foreign currency earnings, Bolat said: “To export is to promote the country, its technology, and its quality to the world. It also means contributing to a stable balance of payments and ensuring stability in money and foreign exchange markets. Increasing our goods and services exports is our indispensable red line.”
Referring to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s emphasis on “investment, production, employment, and exports,” Bolat said Türkiye’s economy is expected to approach USD 1.6 trillion in GDP, moving the country from 17th to 16th place in the “World Economic League” rankings and making it the fourth-largest economy in Europe.
“We continue to produce and grow”
Bolat stated that goods and services exports account for 25% of national income. He announced that services exports reached 122 billion dollars, while the current account deficit stood at USD 25 billion an amount equal to gold imports. Excluding gold, which he described as a financial and investment instrument rather than a trade good, Türkiye would effectively have no current account deficit.
He noted that unemployment decreased to 7.7% in December, marking the lowest rate in the past 25 years. The economy grew by 3.7% in the first nine months of the year, while the annual average growth rate over the past 23 years reached 5.4%. Employment increased from 20 million to nearly 33 million.
Bolat underlined that Türkiye is making progress in medium-high and high-technology manufacturing, with such products now accounting for 43.5% of total goods exports, up from 30% in 2002. He stressed that maintaining political stability and expanding production in industry, agriculture, and services despite global challenges would help achieve the “Century of Türkiye” vision.
“There is ruthless competition in the world”
Addressing global developments, Bolat said: “If we stop, others will overtake us. If we fall behind, they will surpass us by far. There is ruthless competition in the world. Rankings in exports and economic size are changing rapidly. East Asia is rising fast, and trade wars are intensifying. Protectionist trends are increasing. Customs tariffs are becoming key tools of trade wars. Therefore, we are working to establish stronger alliances with our trade partners while pursuing exports to the entire world.”
Bolat stated that the Ministry provided TL 33 billion in export support last year to 168,000 exporters. This year, TL 45 billion will be allocated through support mechanisms and the Price Stability Fund. Additionally, export rediscount credits from the Central Bank reached nearly TL 1 trillion last year, with significant subsidies provided through institutions such as Eximbank and Ziraat Bank.
Highlighting efforts in trade diplomacy and international agreements, Bolat said Türkiye now has free trade agreements with 24 countries. The Customs Union with the European Union marks its 30th anniversary this year. The EU remains Türkiye’s largest export partner, accounting for 43% of exports, totaling USD 117 billion. The export-to-import coverage ratio with the EU increased from 50% in 1996 to 101% in 2025.
Bolat added that exports to Africa increased from USD 5.4 billion to USD 37 billion, while exports to the United States reached USD 16.2 billion. Combined goods and services exports totaled approximately USD 396 billion last year, surpassing USD 390 billion target set by President Erdoğan by USD 6 billion. For this year, the target is USD 282 billion in goods exports and USD 128 billion in services exports, totaling USD 410 billion.
He acknowledged ongoing challenges, particularly inflation, which declined from 76% to 30% and is expected to fall toward 20% this year. Bolat emphasized that employment, economic growth, and exports will continue to rise, while support for tradespeople, farmers, retirees, civil servants, workers, SMEs, and industrialists will increase as earthquake-related fiscal pressures ease.
Türkiye Exporters Assembly Vice Chairman Adil Pelister stated that the “Top 1000 Exporters Survey,” conducted since 2004, has become a prestigious list representing companies responsible for 60% of Türkiye’s exports.
Gebze Chamber of Commerce Chairman Abdurrahman Aslantaş highlighted that 63 member companies included in the Top 1000 Exporters List contributed USD 10.497 billion in exports, significantly supporting the regional and national economy.
Following the speeches, awards were presented to the 63 exporting companies affiliated with the Gebze Chamber of Commerce that ranked among Türkiye’s Top 1000 Exporters.
Comments
No comment yet.