IGEXX 2026 to Bring Together Leading Players in Global E-Commerce in Istanbul

Organized under the leadership of the Ministry of Trade, coordinated by the Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TİM), and in cooperation with the Electronic Commerce Operators Association (ETİD), IGEXX 2026 will be held at the Haliç Congress Center on 3-5 September. Ahead of the summit, which will bring together 50 global marketplaces representing an aggregate volume of approximately USD 2.75 trillion, a press conference was held at TİM.

The countdown has begun for the Istanbul Global E-Export Summit (IGEXX 2026). Organized for the second time this year under the leadership of the Ministry of Trade, coordinated by the Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TİM), and in cooperation with the Electronic Commerce Operators Association (ETİD), the summit will take place at the Haliç Congress Center on 3-5 September under the theme “Beyond Borders.”

Ahead of the summit, a press conference was held at the TİM Foreign Trade Complex, attended by TİM Vice President Çetin Tecdelioğlu, Deputy Director General for Exports at the Ministry of Trade Erbülent Kurşun, Head of the Department of E-Export, Digital Marketing, Behavioral Public Policies and New-Generation Technologies at the Ministry of Trade's Directorate General for Exports Hasan Önal, ETİD Secretary General Ömer Gürkan, and members of the press.

At the press conference, information was shared on the scope, objectives, and program of IGEXX 2026, while Türkiye's growth potential in e-exports and its position in global digital trade were also assessed.

“We are elevating IGEXX to a far stronger and more global level”

Speaking at the press conference, TİM Vice President Çetin Tecdelioğlu said that IGEXX, whose first step was taken in 2024, would be held this year with a significantly stronger structure.

Tecdelioğlu said, “This year, under the leadership of our Ministry of Trade, coordinated by our Assembly and in cooperation with ETİD, we are elevating the IGEXX Summit to a global level. We extend our sincere gratitude to our Minister and the Ministry for entrusting this important responsibility to our Assembly.”

Recalling the strong interest generated by the inaugural IGEXX event, Tecdelioğlu stated that in 2024, more than 3,000 participants from 30 countries attended the summit, 900 companies held more than 2,000 bilateral business meetings with 33 marketplaces, and a trade volume exceeding USD 1 billion was generated.

“Competition now takes place on digital platforms”

Emphasizing that global trade is undergoing a profound transformation, Tecdelioğlu drew attention to the reshaping of geopolitical balances and supply chains.

Noting that the transformation in digital trade has created a new competitive order, Tecdelioğlu said, “Competition no longer takes place solely in factories or at ports. It is now unfolding on digital platforms, at the speed of algorithms, and across cross-border logistics networks. Consumers can reach the other side of the world with a single touch. In this new era, we cannot afford to remain on the sidelines. We must have a seat at the table and be among those shaping the rules of the game.”

Stating that Türkiye's production strength must be brought together with the opportunities offered by digital trade, Tecdelioğlu underscored the importance of making demand for products originating from Türkiye permanent.

Tecdelioğlu said, “We want to combine the strength of our industry, our design capabilities, and our centuries-old production culture with the boundless opportunities of the digital world. We aim to deliver the 'Made in Türkiye' signature directly to consumers across the globe.”

E-export target: 10 percent

Pointing to the rapid growth of Türkiye's e-commerce ecosystem in recent years, Tecdelioğlu said that according to 2025 ETBİS data, e-commerce volume had exceeded TRY 4.5 trillion, surpassed USD 115 billion in dollar terms, and the number of businesses operating in digital commerce had risen above 634,000.

Emphasizing that more of this production and trade strength must be channeled into e-exports, Tecdelioğlu said, “Our primary objective is to increase the share of e-exports in our total exports to 10 percent over the medium term. IGEXX will be one of the most tangible meeting points supporting this major objective.”

“We want to make Istanbul one of the centers of digital trade”

Recalling that the theme of IGEXX 2026 has been set as “Beyond Borders,” Tecdelioğlu said their objective was to move beyond not only geographical borders but also the existing boundaries of technology and digital trade.

Tecdelioğlu said, “We want to transform Istanbul into a digital trade hub where the world's leading marketplaces, global logistics players, and our domestic producers come together. Our aim is to elevate our national brands to the global league and further strengthen the e-export capabilities of our export family.”

Inviting the entire business community to IGEXX 2026, which will be held at the Haliç Congress Center on 3-5 September, Tecdelioğlu said, “Just as production is our business and exports are our strength, e-exports are our future.”

A significant share of global e-commerce to converge in Istanbul

Hasan Önal, Head of the Department of E-Export, Digital Marketing, Behavioral Public Policies and New-Generation Technologies at the Ministry of Trade, also provided information on the program of IGEXX 2026.

Stating that global e-commerce volume, which stood at USD 3.2 trillion in 2019, is expected to reach USD 7 trillion in 2026, Önal said that 50 global marketplaces would participate in this year's summit and that 28 panels would be held.

Noting that the marketplaces participating in the summit represent a trade volume of approximately USD 2.75 trillion, Önal said that marketplaces, brands, and prominent players in the digital trade ecosystem from different regions of the world would come together with Turkish companies in Istanbul.

Önal stated that Türkiye aims to close this year with e-export volume of USD 6 billion, adding that the number of corporate firms generating more than USD 10,000 in annual e-exports increased from 8,132 in 2022 to 11,420 in 2025, representing a rise of 40.4 percent.

“We want to secure a larger share of the growing market”

Deputy Director General for Exports at the Ministry of Trade Erbülent Kurşun, meanwhile, drew attention to the fact that e-exports constitute a rapidly expanding market and emphasized the importance of increasing Türkiye's share in this field.

Stating that they aim to keep exports continuously on the agenda and enable companies to benefit more extensively from next-generation trade channels, Kurşun said, “This market is continuously evolving and expanding rapidly. Accordingly, we are determined to secure a larger share of this market.”

At the conclusion of the press conference, TİM Vice President Çetin Tecdelioğlu and Hasan Önal, Head of the Ministry of Trade's E-Export Department, answered questions from members of the press regarding e-export support mechanisms, the participation of SMEs in digital trade, global protectionist trends, and IGEXX 2026.