The Future of Exports Addressed at the TİM Delegates Workshop
The Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TİM) Delegates Workshop was held in Antalya from 30 October to 1 November. Attended by Deputy Minister of Trade Özgür Volkan Ağar and TİM President Mustafa Gültepe, the workshop featured comprehensive discussions on current economic developments, exporters' competitiveness, financing and support mechanisms, developments in global markets, and expectations for 2027.
Bringing together TİM delegates from all corners of Türkiye, the opening programme of the Delegates Workshop was held with the participation of Deputy Minister of Trade Özgür Volkan Ağar and TİM President Mustafa Gültepe.
Addressing the opening session, TİM President Mustafa Gültepe commemorated the 103rd anniversary of the founding of the Republic and paid tribute to Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades-in-arms with profound respect and gratitude.
Noting that the Delegates Workshop held in Antalya had become an established tradition, Gültepe said the programme provided an important platform for consultation, where the common challenges, demands, expectations and proposed solutions of the exporting community could be addressed directly.
“We are coming together around a shared vision to shape the future together”
Drawing attention to the fact that they were holding the first Delegates Workshop of the new administration's term, which began in June, Gültepe said, “At this workshop, we listen to one another and engage in consultation together. We come together around a shared vision to shape the future collectively.”
As part of the opening programme, Gültepe delivered a presentation to the delegates, reviewing current economic developments, export performance and the targets for the period ahead. Reiterating the vision of positioning Türkiye among the world's top 10 exporting countries, Gültepe underscored the importance of production, competitiveness, added value and market diversification in achieving this goal.
Competitiveness featured among the key items on the agenda
Gültepe also referred to the report entitled “Enhancing Competitiveness in Exports”, prepared by TİM in collaboration with PwC Türkiye. Noting that the report, which examines nine sectors in detail, identifies Türkiye's strengths and areas for improvement in competitiveness, Gültepe highlighted the importance of measures that would strengthen exporters' positions in global markets.
Throughout the workshop, sectoral assessments, financing and support mechanisms, production costs, developments in global markets and issues affecting exporters' competitiveness were examined comprehensively.
Delegates put their questions directly to the officials
Following the opening programme, Deputy Minister of Trade Özgür Volkan Ağar, TİM President Mustafa Gültepe, and representatives from the Ministry and TİM answered delegates' questions during the “Delegates Ask” session.
During the session, exporters from various sectors and regions directly shared the challenges they encounter on the ground, their expectations and proposed solutions, while current issues on the export agenda were discussed through mutual consultation.
2027 viewed through an economic and geopolitical lens
A panel entitled “Outlook for 2027” was also held as part of the Delegates Workshop. Moderated by TİM Chief Economist Emre Alpan İnan, the panel featured assessments by Chief Advisor to the President Prof. Dr. Çağrı Erhan, Professor at Bilgi University Prof. Dr. Erhan Aslanoğlu, and Risk and Strategy Analyst Metehan Demir.
The panel addressed the future of international trade, strategic partnerships, the transformation of export markets, economic expectations for 2027, and the potential impact of geopolitical developments on global supply chains.
The 103rd anniversary of the Republic celebrated with the exporting community
A Republic Gala Programme was also organised as part of the Delegates Workshop to mark the 103rd anniversary of the founding of the Republic. Attended by TİM President Mustafa Gültepe and members of the exporting community, the programme highlighted the role of production and exports in the Republic's second century.
Gültepe said, “Along with the Republic, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk set before us the goal of elevating Türkiye above the level of contemporary civilisation. We, as exporters, are the present-day representatives of this great journey entrusted to us by the Republic.”
Emphasising the importance of unity and solidarity in further advancing Türkiye's production and export capacity, Gültepe stated, “We must draw strength from our past, produce more and create greater value for the world. We can succeed by working together, producing together and further strengthening our solidarity. Together, we will make the second century of our Republic a century of production and exports.”
The three-day TİM Delegates Workshop concluded with a comprehensive review of the exporting community's shared agenda, the exchange of views and recommendations from the field, and consultations on the roadmap for the period ahead.