German Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche has arrived in Ankara for a two-day official visit aimed at deepening economic, trade, and energy cooperation between Germany and Türkiye, as both countries seek to expand strategic partnerships amid evolving regional and global challenges.

Reiche's visit, her first official trip to Türkiye since taking office, comes at a time when bilateral economic relations continue to grow, with Germany remaining one of Türkiye’s largest trading partners and a key source of foreign investment. The German minister is accompanied by a broad delegation of business leaders and industry representatives from the energy, technology, manufacturing, and tourism sectors.

During her stay in Ankara, Reiche is expected to hold talks with Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, and Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek. Discussions are expected to focus on expanding bilateral trade, improving investment conditions, strengthening energy security, and advancing cooperation in sustainable energy technologies.

The visit also includes participation in the 6th Türkiye-Germany Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO) meeting and the 7th Turkish-German Energy Forum, two major platforms designed to strengthen cooperation between government institutions and the private sectors of both countries.

Ahead of the visit, Reiche described Türkiye as a strategically important partner for Germany, emphasizing its role as a critical bridge between Europe, the Middle East, and Eurasia. She pointed to Türkiye’s growing importance in regional energy networks and supply chains, particularly at a time of geopolitical uncertainty and shifting global trade dynamics.

German officials have also highlighted Türkiye’s skilled workforce, industrial capacity, and expanding infrastructure as key factors attracting increased interest from German companies looking to expand operations and access broader regional markets.

Energy security is expected to be one of the main themes of the visit. The Turkish-German Energy Forum, taking place in Ankara, will bring together government officials, industry executives, academics, and energy experts to discuss cooperation in renewable energy, hydrogen technologies, energy infrastructure, and investment opportunities.

The forum is part of the long-standing Turkish-German Energy Partnership, which has served as a key mechanism for bilateral cooperation in the energy sector since 2012.

Bilateral trade between Türkiye and Germany has continued to grow in recent years, supported by thousands of German-capital companies operating across Türkiye. Both governments have repeatedly expressed their intention to further increase trade volumes and encourage new investment projects in strategic sectors.

Analysts say Reiche’s visit reflects the growing importance both countries place on strengthening economic resilience, securing energy supplies, and developing long-term partnerships amid an increasingly complex international environment. (ILKHA)