Istanbul: The global industrial landscape and consequently the manufacturing sector are undergoing a fundamental transformation, Belgian Prime Minister Matthias Diependaele asserted during the Belgian-Turkish Dialogue on the Future of Manufacturing held in Istanbul. The event, which coincided with the visit of Belgium’s Queen Mathilde to Trkiye, emphasized the importance of digital transformation and industrial resilience.
According to Anadolu Agency, Prime Minister Diependaele highlighted the rapid integration of digitalization, automation, and artificial intelligence into the core of industrial production. He stressed the need for nations to adopt smart, efficient, sustainable, and resilient production systems. Diependaele underscored the significance of partnering with Trkiye to play an essential role in the future of manufacturing, noting the eagerness of Belgian research institutions and companies to deepen their collaboration with Trkiye. He further mentioned that digital transformation and human-centric innovation could convert shared challenges into shared opportunities, with practical choices like raising productivity and securing industrial skills shaping the future of manufacturing.
Turkish Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir expressed optimism about strengthening economic cooperation and exploring new partnership opportunities between Trkiye and Belgium. He noted that in the current climate, where economic resilience and national security are increasingly linked, the principles that have historically shaped global value chains are being re-evaluated. While efficiency remains crucial, Kacir emphasized the need for reliability, proximity, diversification, and trusted partnerships as essential components of economic strength and secure supply chains.
Kacir also noted the intensifying global competition for advanced technologies, which is transforming the nature of production. He argued that industrial competitiveness will belong to those who can combine robust manufacturing capacity with digital technologies, skilled human capital, innovation capabilities, and sustainable practices. Trkiye, he noted, has been preparing for this future, with its manufacturing value-added increasing significantly from $41 billion in 2002 to $246 billion, and its exports of high and medium-high technology products rising from $10 billion to $112 billion annually during the same period.
Trkiye’s industrial prowess is evident in its position as a global leader in military UAV production and its strong standing in European markets for commercial vehicles, solar panels, buses, home appliances, and other key sectors. Kacir concluded by emphasizing that for Trkiye, digital transformation extends beyond advanced technologies and infrastructure to include a focus on people.