DIŞYÖNDER President Dr. Hakan Çınar said, "Recent events such as the Russia-Ukraine War, the Red Sea crisis, tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, conflicts along the Israel-Iran axis, and global trade wars have forced companies to restructure their supply chains. Traditional global trade routes have become more costly, risky, and unpredictable.
At this critical point, Turkey stands out with its geographical location, advanced logistics infrastructure, strong ports, air cargo capacity, and strategic position at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Today, Turkey can reach about 40% of the world’s population and approximately 30% of the global economy within a four-hour flight, making it a natural hub for transit trade.
However, transforming this advantage into economic value requires a new vision and bold steps," he added. CAPITAL SEEKS A NEW CENTER According to Çınar, capital is searching for a new center. "Recently, especially international companies operating in the Gulf region have been looking for alternative hubs.
Although Dubai has long played a significant role as a regional trade and financial center, rising costs, increasing competition, and global geopolitical risks are pushing companies to seek alternatives. Turkey, with Istanbul Airport, Marmara Region ports, Mersin, Izmir, and Black Sea connections, is one of the strongest candidates for this new era.
Positioning Istanbul as a next-generation trade center alongside London, Frankfurt, Dubai, and Singapore will greatly contribute to finance, insurance, logistics, technology, and service exports. When making investment decisions, global companies consider not only tax rates but also predictability, transaction speed, bureaucratic ease, and operational costs.
Therefore, establishing special incentive mechanisms for transit trade activities, providing long-term security to companies setting up regional centers, and further digitalizing customs processes are crucial. Turkey competes not only with regional countries but also with global logistics hubs like Dubai, Singapore, the Netherlands, and Poland.
Hence, we must reassess our investment environment according to international standards. TRANSIT TRADE CAN BE A REMEDY FOR THE CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT Dr. Hakan Çınar continued, "One of Turkey’s most significant economic challenges is the current account deficit and foreign exchange need. Transit trade is a strategic area that can bring foreign currency into the country without requiring the high costs of production investments.
The added value created during the arrival, storage, handling, labeling, repackaging, insuring, and forwarding of a product through Turkey to third countries generates income for many sectors, from logistics to banking, software to consultancy. Moreover, this model can produce economic results much faster than industrial investments." CALL FROM DIŞYÖNDER DIŞYÖNDER President Dr. Hakan Çınar stated that as one of Turkey’s most important NGOs in foreign trade, they have made calls to the government, business world, and all relevant institutions. Çınar listed the calls as follows: • A "Transit Trade and Regional Hub Strategy" should be prepared for Turkey. • Certain regions, especially Istanbul, Mersin, and Izmir, should be structured as international trade bases.
• Bureaucracy in transit trade operations should be further reduced. • Competitive incentive mechanisms should be developed for foreign companies establishing regional centers. • Corporate tax exemption should apply not only to goods that do not enter Turkey but also to goods that enter Turkey and are then transited.
• Turkey should become not only a production and export country but also a global center where trade is managed. The world is drawing a new economic map. Trade routes are changing, capital seeks safe and efficient ports, and companies are redistributing their risks. Turkey faces perhaps the greatest strategic opportunity in recent years.
With the right steps taken today, Turkey can become not just a corridor through which goods pass but a global center where trade is managed, financed, and directed. As DIŞYÖNDER, we believe Turkey has all the advantages to become one of the transit trade leaders in the coming decade. The key is to recognize this opportunity in time and act decisively.
Flash statement from Minister Bolat at the National Vision in Trade Summit! We have grown our economy sixfold in dollar terms. The superpower is on the brink of an economic crisis, and the public is suffering! After rents, housing prices in the US have also soared! Agenda: The superpower is on the brink of an economic crisis, and the public is suffering!
After rents, housing prices in the US have also soared! The great devil, the US economy, has been shaken by the drums of war in the Middle East and the inflation crisis! Chip giants on the New York Stock Exchange have plummeted! The world: The great devil, the US economy, has been shaken by the drums of war in the Middle East and the inflation crisis! Chip giants on the New York Stock Exchange have plummeted! Unemployment claims are rising!
The US economy has hit rock bottom. The world: Unemployment claims are rising! The US economy has hit rock bottom. The Turkey-Syria trade relations were discussed at the City Economies Summit hosted by Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality. Current: The Turkey-Syria trade relations were discussed at the City Economies Summit hosted by Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality.
