The Ninth TİM Regional Export Meetings Held in Erzurum
The ninth edition of the TİM Regional Export Meetings program was organized under the auspices of the Eastern Anatolia Exporters Association (DAİB).
The ninth edition of the “TİM Regional Exporters Meetings” program, organized by the Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TİM), was held in Erzurum under the auspices of the Eastern Anatolia Exporters Association (DAİB). Following previous gatherings in İzmir, Trabzon, Mersin, Bursa, Gaziantep, Denizli, Ankara, and Antalya—organized with the aim of contributing to the sustainable growth of exports and evaluating the challenges and demands of exporting companies—this time exporters in Erzurum were convened. The program was attended by TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe, members of the TİM Board of Directors, DAİB Chairman Ethem Tanrıver, chairpersons and executives of exporter associations affiliated with DAİB, as well as representatives of exporting companies operating in the region.
During the program, where the current state of regional exports, new market opportunities, and targets for 2026 were thoroughly deliberated, representatives of the business community, public institutions, and exporters came together to exchange views toward establishing a common roadmap.
“We strive to resolve issues in cooperation with our Ministry”
Speaking at the opening of the program, TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe stated that 2025 was concluded with exports amounting to 273.4 billion dollars, reflecting a 4.5 percent increase. Noting that a significant opportunity had emerged during the pandemic period in 2020, Gültepe emphasized that this opportunity led to double-digit growth in exports, while adding that these rates have declined over the past three years. “Hopefully, we will continue to increase our exports in 2026. Our target is 282 billion dollars. With DAİB's contribution of 3.5 billion dollars, I trust we will reach this figure,” he said.
Highlighting that Gulf countries occupy a particularly significant position among regional export markets, Gültepe continued his remarks as follows:
“During the 2023–2024 period, Iraq remained our largest market within the 12–13 billion dollar range. The United Arab Emirates stood out as a prominent market with a volume of 8–10 billion dollars, while our exports to Saudi Arabia ranged between 2.5 and 4 billion dollars. When considered alongside countries such as Iran, Qatar, and Kuwait, our total exports to the Gulf Region fluctuate within the 25–30 billion dollar band. From time to time, we endeavor to resolve challenges arising in certain regions in coordination with our Ministry of Trade. In particular, we closely monitor developments concerning the Euphrates River basin and regional trade corridors.”
“War directly affects trade”
Underscoring that the ongoing war and conflict environment in the Middle East directly impacts trade flows, Gültepe stated, “We monitor these developments on a daily basis. Depending on regional dynamics, export figures occasionally experience fluctuations of up to 30–36 percent. Our foremost wish is for this climate of conflict to come to an end as soon as possible. In regions where wars persist, trade, investment, and human mobility are inevitably adversely affected. Developments on a global scale also directly influence this landscape. Rising energy prices, logistics costs, and raw material prices are exerting their impact in Türkiye, as in all countries. Should oil prices rise again, it will be inevitable for global inflationary pressures to intensify further. Therefore, a cautious and well-calibrated process management is required both in terms of energy costs and supply chains,” he noted.
“Our objective is to strengthen exporters in every respect”
Emphasizing that the world is changing at an unprecedented pace, Gültepe pointed out that leadership paradigms and global balances are evolving accordingly, stating, “Global developments are far from straightforward. Particularly with the leadership change in the United States, we observe that even conflicts once considered intractable have entered a different phase. The world is, in effect, passing through a ring of fire. Inevitably, this situation also affects us. Energy and logistics costs continue to rise steadily. To speak candidly, even oil prices exceeding 100 dollars constitute a serious risk. Levels of 140–150 dollars would create profound global challenges, triggering stagnation alongside inflation—namely stagflation. This would strain both the global economy and our country. Across all regions of Türkiye, we are exerting intensive efforts alongside our exporters. We organize fairs, establish collaborations with universities, and support the training and projects of our exporters. Our objective is to strengthen exporters in every respect,” he said.
“Our target for this year is 3.5 billion dollars”
In his address during the program, Eastern Anatolia Exporters' Association (DAİB) Chairman Ethem Tanrıver stated that they were hosting a significant export gathering in Erzurum, a historic city of trade and commerce. He emphasized that they are situated in a strategically important geography that once served as a powerful hub of trade and industry, and that they are striving to revive this strength. He continued as follows:
“As DAİB, we serve 17 provinces. We share borders with six countries and have eight border gates, which constitutes a substantial advantage. Last year, we closed our exports at approximately 3 billion dollars, achieving 16 percent growth. We are an association growing faster than the Türkiye average. However, candidly speaking, this figure is not sufficient for us. Accordingly, we have set our target for this year at 3.5 billion dollars. There are nearly 10,000 active exporters in our region, while this number is around 130,000 across Türkiye. In 2025, nearly 7,000 of our companies engaged in exports, and we aim to increase this number further. Geographically, we are highly advantaged, being in close proximity to Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. The greatest strength of this region lies in its young population. We have a society that is industrious and eager to produce. While finding workers has become increasingly difficult in western regions, we do not face such a challenge. However, we do have shortcomings in terms of qualified personnel, and we are addressing this issue in cooperation with our state. Historically, this geography possessed a very strong trade and industrial base, and we aspire to return to those days. This potential exists within us.”
Exporters informed about financing opportunities
Following the opening speeches, the program continued with the “Exporters Ask” session, during which TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe and DAİB Chairman Ethem Tanrıver listened to the challenges faced by exporters. Subsequently, representatives of Türk Eximbank, Türk Ticaret Bankası, and İGE Inc. delivered a presentation titled “Financing Supports for Exporters.”
Erzurum branch of Türk Ticaret Bankası inaugurated
Following the TİM Regional Export Meetings program, the Erzurum branch of Türk Ticaret Bankası was officially inaugurated. The opening ceremony was attended by Erzurum Governor Aydın Baruş, Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mehmet Sekmen, TİM Chairman and Vice Chairman of Türk Ticaret Bankası Mustafa Gültepe, Member of the Board of Directors and General Manager of Türk Ticaret Bankası İlker Yeşil, DAİB Chairman Ethem Tanrıver, AK Party Provincial Chairman İbrahim Küçükoğlu, ETSO Chairman Saim Özakalın, Chairman of the Board of Erzurum Central 1st Organized Industrial Zone Murat Urkuç, as well as numerous exporters operating in the region.