Export and Banking Industry's Key Players Gathered at TİM
Organized by İGE, the “Export Financing Meetings” took place at the Istanbul Foreign Trade Complex under the auspices of the Türkiye Exporters Assembly.
The program, aimed at bringing exporters and the finance world together, was organized by İGE and hosted by the Türkiye Exporters Assembly at the TİM Istanbul Foreign Trade Complex. With the support of Turk Eximbank and sponsorship from Akbank, Garanti BBVA, İşbank, Odeabank, and Yapı Kredi, the event, held on Thursday, April 25th, saw over 300 exporters in attendance at the Şehit Ömer Halisdemir Conference Hall.
TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe: “Türk Ticaret Bankası will start granting loans towards the end of the year.”
Addressing the audience at the opening of the meeting, TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe emphasized that production and exports constitute the driving force of the economy. He stated that TİM began the Republic's second century with a vision to place Türkiye among the top 10 countries in exports. Gültepe, who announced a $375 billion export target for 2028, said, “Achieving this goal requires increased production, utilizing the capabilities of high technology, adding value through design, branding, and innovative ideas. Access to finance under favorable conditions is crucial for our exporter companies to enhance their capacities in all these areas”.
Gültepe noted that in their meetings with representatives from all sectors over the past month, finance emerged as a top priority. He continued:
“Many of our exporter companies need long-term, low-interest financing due to declining revenues in many sectors. Therefore, I find it very meaningful that İGE brings together lenders and borrowers at the 'Export Financing Meetings' event. Our efforts to restructure Türk Ticaret Bankası, which we acquired for our export family last year through İGE, are also ongoing. The bank will start granting loans to our exporters towards the end of the year. Furthermore, we are nearing the end of our discussions with banks for a support package to be used in financing the green transformation. Hopefully, we will have good news for our exporters in this regard in the near future.''
İGE Board Member Kasım Akdeniz: “We aim to further develop the interaction between exporters and banks to carry it into the future.”
In his opening speech, İGE Board Member Kasım Akdeniz emphasized that they took an important step towards realizing the contribution of unity in Istanbul, where the heart of exports beats.
Akdeniz stressed that their most important mission as İGE is to maximize Türkiye's export performance and ensure more resources are allocated to this area:
“We know that finance is crucial for the sustainable growth of exports. Therefore, we are continuing our efforts to ensure uninterrupted and sustainable access to finance. Especially in Istanbul, the city that is the heart of trade, we are strengthening the cooperation between our exporters and financial institutions, increasing synergy between the finance and export worlds, and providing an important platform to produce concrete solutions. We believe that our efforts will yield positive results for realizing our country's export potential, the growth of our exporters, and the strengthening of the Turkish economy. Together, we will continue to work towards developing exports and sustainable growth.''
Comprehensive Information on Financing Opportunities and Solutions Provided to Participants
Following the opening speeches, a panel on “Banking and Finance” was held, where top representatives from banks informed participants about the financing solutions they offer to exporters. Moderated by Kasım Akdeniz, the panel on “The Importance of Financing in Export - Threats and Opportunities” saw TİM Deputy Chairman Çetin Tecdelioğlu, TİM Board Member Baran Çelik, and TİM Sectors Council Member Erdem Çenesiz express their financing needs alongside sectoral analyses. Highlighting the value of financing in exports, Kasım Akdeniz emphasized the importance of using resources correctly and efficiently under the headings of threats and opportunities. Following the panel, Mehmet Efkan Bingöl, Director of Marketing at Eximbank, introduced participants to the financing opportunities offered by Eximbank to exporters. The program concluded with a presentation by İGE Board Member Kasım Akdeniz.