Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan outlined Türkiye’s ambitious export and economic goals during his address at the 32nd Ordinary General Assembly of the Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TİM) and the Export Champions Award Ceremony held in Istanbul.

In his keynote speech, President Erdoğan reaffirmed the government's commitment to expanding Türkiye's global trade footprint. “By 2028, we aim to increase our exports to distant countries to $50 billion and raise the share of OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) countries in our total exports to 30 percent,” he announced, signaling a strategic pivot towards diversifying Türkiye’s export markets.

President Erdoğan also lauded Türkiye’s achievements in the defense industry, particularly in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). “We have succeeded in becoming one of the leading countries in armed and unarmed unmanned aerial vehicles. Turkish companies now produce two out of every three UAVs sold worldwide,” he said, highlighting the country’s rise as a global player in military technology.

Reflecting on the broader economic landscape, the President emphasized Türkiye’s resilience amid regional instability and global economic turbulence. “So far, we have thankfully managed to keep our country at the periphery of the conflicts and wars in our region,” Erdoğan noted. “We have not allowed the ever-changing global economic and political climate to divert us from our goals.”

He further reported that Türkiye’s economy grew by 3.2 percent in 2024, attributing the growth to a policy framework centered on investment, employment, production, and exports. “2024 was a year of significant achievements for our country,” he stated.

The annual event, organized by TİM, recognized leading Turkish exporters and celebrated the nation’s export performance across various sectors. It also served as a platform to underscore Türkiye’s long-term economic vision and the strategic role of exports in national development. (ILKHA)