The 43rd Annual General Assembly of the International Investors Association (YASED) convened in Istanbul, bringing together representatives from the public, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector. Among the distinguished guests were Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Industry and Technology Deputy Minister Zekeriya Çoştu, Investment Office President A. Burak Dağlıoğlu, and Human Resources Office President Assoc. Prof. Salim Atay, as well as ambassadors and leaders of international and local organizations.
Addressing the assembly, Minister Kacır emphasized YASED's active role in connecting Türkiye with qualified FDI and provided information about the government's support to various sectors, stating, "We will contribute USD 7 billion annually to the closure of our current account deficit with 182 projects totaling TRY 103 billion, focusing on middle-high and high technology in the fields of machinery, mobility, structural transformation in manufacturing, health, and chemicals, and digital transformation."
Minister Kacır underscored the importance of positioning Türkiye as a global and regional production hub and emphasized the need for a robust R&D infrastructure to support investment decisions.
Investment Office President A. Burak Dağlıoğlu highlighted Türkiye's success in attracting investments, noting that the country has attracted USD 262 billion of FDI since 2003. Dağlıoğlu stated, “The number of international companies has now surpassed 80,000, a significant rise from 6,000 in 2003." He emphasized Türkiye's transition to a middle-high-income country and its increased share in global exports, “Türkiye's per capita income was USD 3,000 in 2003, placing it among lower-middle-income countries, but now it is USD 13,000, positioning it among upper-middle-income countries." Furthermore, he noted, " Türkiye's share in global trade stood slightly over 0.5 percent back then whereas it has now increased to over 1.1 percent."
YASED Chairperson Engin Aksoy emphasized the importance of investment and growth updates in attracting international investors, highlighting the crucial role of YASED members in reflecting Türkiye's strength and contributing to its global competitiveness. Aksoy stressed the need for macroeconomic stability and regulatory predictability to foster an attractive investment environment. He also emphasized the significance of continuous improvement in regulatory frameworks to enhance Türkiye's competitiveness on the global stage.
The assembly also featured a panel discussion on "Global and Regional Developments and Their Impact on the Business World," moderated by YASED Vice Chairperson Işıl Yalçın. The panelists, including World Bank Türkiye Country Director Humberto Lopez and Professor of Economics Dr. Fatih Özatay, evaluated recent developments in the global and Turkish economies from a long-term economic perspective.