TİM to Bring Exporters Together with Buyers Across Five Continents in 2026
TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe: We will organize an average of at least three trade delegations every month. As of 2026, we will launch a new-generation era of “TİM Vision Delegations” in developed markets. Rather than limiting our programs solely to B2B meetings, we will convene the most influential market players and opinion leaders through sector-specific panels.
The Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TİM) will expand and continue in 2026 the delegation programs it has intensified over the past three years in order to enhance market diversification and connect exporters with new buyers. Having organized 32 delegation programs in 31 countries in 2025, TİM will, in 2026, bring exporters together with buyers across five continents through 38 trade delegations.
“We brought 546 of our companies together with nearly 4,000 buyers in 31 countries”
TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe stated that they regard trade fairs and delegation programs as the most important platforms for showcasing Türkiye's production potential to the world. Speaking at the introductory meeting of the trade delegation program planned for 2026, Gültepe continued as follows:
“Today, the Made in Türkiye brand is globally recognized as a symbol of quality and trust. Earning this trust was, of course, not easy. As TİM, we consider it our responsibility to further strengthen this image and to reinforce confidence in the Made in Türkiye brand. For this very reason, wherever we believe it will contribute to our exports, we take part in trade fairs alongside our exporters' associations, while simultaneously running an intensive delegation program. Under the institutional assurance of our Ministry of Trade, TİM, and our associations, we bring our exporters together directly with the key decision-makers of companies positioned as potential buyers. In 2025, together with our associations, we carried out a total of around 200 delegation programs and participated in more than 300 trade fairs. Of these delegation programs, 32 were organized by TİM. Through these organizations, we brought 546 of our companies together with nearly 4,000 buyers in 31 countries and conducted approximately nine thousand bilateral business meetings.”
“Beyond being sellers, we will engage developed markets as solution partners”
Noting that TİM will further intensify delegation programs in 2026, Gültepe continued his remarks as follows:
“In 2026, we aim to organize a total of 38 delegation programs. In other words, we will carry out an average of at least three trade delegations every month. With the delegations to be organized by our associations, the total number will exceed 200. With the new year, we will launch a new-generation era of 'TİM Vision Delegations' in developed markets. We will no longer limit our programs solely to B2B meetings. Through sectoral panels, we will bring together the most important players and opinion leaders of the market. In other words, in the countries where we organize delegations, we will go not merely as 'sellers' but as 'solution partners' that discuss the future of the sector, set visions, and provide direction.”
“We will close 2025 with exports at around 270 billion dollars”
Evaluating current developments, Mustafa Gültepe recalled that the past two years have been particularly challenging in terms of production and exports. Pointing out that production costs in Türkiye are 60–65 percent higher in dollar terms than those of competitor countries in Asia and 15–20 percent higher than those in Eastern Europe, Gültepe stated the following:
“For some time now, we have been trying to export not only products but also our inflation to the world. Naturally, no one is buying that. As a result, our competitiveness has weakened in many sectors in which we once held strong positions. We have been unable to reach the double-digit growth rates we desire in exports. In the first 11 months of this year, exports have increased by 3.7 percent. We will close 2025 with exports of around 270 billion dollars. Over the 11-month period, we are up by 8.7 billion dollars compared to the same period last year. The greatest contributions to this increase came from the automotive, defense industry, and chemicals sectors. When we also add the 4.2 billion dollars of parity contribution, the picture becomes even clearer. As can be seen from the data, our difficulties in spreading exports across a broader base persist. Over the past four quarters, net exports have made a negative contribution to growth. However, as we have repeatedly emphasized, for healthy and sustainable economic growth, we need to derive this contribution from production and exports. The decline in production and exports is also negatively affecting employment in the manufacturing industry. According to Social Security Institution data, manufacturing employment, which stood at approximately 4 million 507 thousand in September 2022, declined to 3 million 925 thousand by September 2025. This outcome means a loss of 582 thousand manufacturing jobs over three years.”
“If we can regain our competitiveness, we can exceed 282 billion dollars in 2026”
Gültepe noted that 2026 will also be a challenging year for global trade, stating that alongside geopolitical risks, trade wars and protectionist measures will be decisive factors shaping the direction of exports. Emphasizing that returning to competitive conditions is of critical importance in a period marked by rising global risks and protectionist measures, Gültepe said, “Therefore, we must put export-oriented policies into effect. If we can regain our competitiveness, we can comfortably achieve the 282 billion dollars goods export target projected for 2026 in the Medium-Term Program (MTP).”