According to Turkey’s Ministry of Trade, the country demonstrated strong performance in services exports last year, reaching $115.2 billion. Tourism accounted for the largest share at $61.1 billion, followed by logistics and transportation ($39.9 billion), other business services including consultancy and R&D ($6.1 billion), information and communication technologies ($4.9 billion), and insurance and pension services ($3 billion).
Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat announced that the country’s IT sector exports reached $5 billion last year, with this year’s target set at a 10% increase to $5.5 billion. He emphasized that Turkey’s tech ecosystem, skilled workforce, and strategic location between Europe and Asia are key drivers of this growth.
The Turkish government is supporting companies in software, digital gaming, blockchain, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity to position the country as a regional hub in digital technology.
Minister Bolat noted that services exports grew by 8.1% last year, and in the first four months of 2024, they increased by 4.3% year-on-year to $30 billion. Turkey’s goal for this year is to achieve a record $121 billion in services exports.
This year, the government has allocated 7.3 billion liras to support services exports, including health tourism, logistics, film production, and technical services. Additionally, Turkey’s defense industry has become a leading sector, exporting to over 180 countries. Exports of drones, ATAK helicopters, naval and radar systems to countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Indonesia, and Pakistan highlight the sector’s growth. Recent deals, including the sale of 48 KAAN fighter jets to Indonesia and Hürjet aircraft to Spain, mark significant steps in the advancement of Turkey’s aviation industry.
Minister Bolat stressed the importance of technology transfer, infrastructure, and training alongside defense exports, stating that Turkey has the potential to establish a sustainable ecosystem in the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia.
