Istanbul:Trkiye has doubled its share of global manufacturing value added over the past two decades, according to Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir. Speaking at the ACE BPSC 2026 conference in Istanbul, Kacir emphasized the importance of engagement with American businesses as a crucial element of bilateral relations.
According to Anadolu Agency, under the leadership of Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Donald Trump, both nations have shown a mutual political will to strengthen economic ties and work towards a $100 billion bilateral trade target. Kacir attributed Trkiye's increased share in global manufacturing to the robust production infrastructure developed over the last 20 years. He noted that annual goods exports have surged from $36 billion in 2002 to $283 billion, underscoring Trkiye's significant role in European value chains.
Trkiye has also made considerable strides in innovation and industrial transformation, with over 1,700 R&D and design centers and more than 13,000 companies operating in 115 technology parks. The R&D workforce has expanded dramatically from 29,000 in the early 2000s to 311,000. Kacir highlighted progress in defense manufacturing and the electric vehicle sector, particularly with the brand Togg, as part of Trkiye's aim to climb higher in global technology value chains.
The minister also discussed cooperation with the World Bank, which has provided more than $1 billion to support industrial companies, smaller businesses, and green technology startups. Additionally, collaboration with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development aims to secure £5 billion for green transformation investments.
Kacir outlined plans to expand Trkiye's data center capacity to 1 gigawatt by 2030 and attract at least $10 billion in private investment for AI, cloud technologies, and digital infrastructure. He mentioned the completed assembly and integration of Trkiye's lunar spacecraft, with a launch scheduled for early 2027. Trkiye is also a signatory of the Artemis Accords and is working on developing a spaceport in Somalia.
Looking towards future growth, Kacir mentioned plans to increase industrial land from 160,000 hectares to 350,000 hectares by 2030. He highlighted infrastructure projects like the Zangezur Corridor, Development Road, and Northern Marmara Railway as key to enhancing trade connections. Kacir extended an invitation to US investors, calling for concrete projects, stronger investment flows, deeper technology cooperation, and enduring commercial partnerships.