We Must Restore Exports as the Driving Force of Growth
On the last day of February, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) released Türkiye's 2024 growth data, revealing that despite global uncertainties, the national economy expanded by 3.2%. We take great pride in being one of the two OECD countries to achieve the highest growth rate. While this success reaffirms the resilience of our economy, it also highlights crucial concerns that demand our attention, particularly the declining contribution of the industrial sector to growth and the diminishing role of exports over the past four years.
As we have consistently emphasized, sustainable and robust economic growth can only be achieved through production and exports. However, we are all aware that we are currently experiencing a slowdown in both areas. This reality is clearly reflected in our export figures.
For instance, in February, our exports remained at $20.8 billion, marking a 1.5% decline compared to the same month last year. Among our 26 export sectors, 17 recorded negative performance last month. As is well remembered, we entered 2025 with a target of reaching $280 billion in exports, which requires a 7% growth rate. Yet, in the first two months of the year, we have fallen behind this goal. The weak demand in the European market and, more importantly, the erosion of our competitiveness have adversely affected our export growth momentum.
Although achieving $280 billion in exports this year will not be an easy task, we are confident that if the obstacles slowing us down are removed, we can accomplish much more. I have full faith in our nation's potential and in the unwavering determination and efforts of our export community, which boasts over 150,000 members. Drawing strength from this resilient network, we remain undeterred by challenges and instead focus on emerging opportunities. We are accelerating our efforts to diversify our markets, enhance the added value of our exports, and engage directly with exporters to address their concerns and develop solutions.
Through our Regional Export Meetings, we are on the ground, actively engaging with stakeholders. Following İzmir and Trabzon, we held our third Regional Export Meeting of the year in Mersin on February 26. There, we listened to the challenges, demands, and suggestions of our exporters and deliberated on potential collaborative solutions. Naturally, we do not stop at merely identifying problems; we swiftly implement solutions within our jurisdiction and escalate other issues to the relevant authorities, ensuring their resolution is closely monitored.
Just as in the past two years, we are pressing ahead with our trade delegation programs at full speed. This month, we will be in Bulgaria, followed by China and Libya in April, actively pursuing new opportunities. Additionally, we will host Treasury and Finance Minister Mr. Mehmet Şimşek at our Expanded Executive Board Meeting, where we will directly convey our views, requests, and recommendations on matters within his ministry's purview.
The conflicts and war zones that have profoundly impacted the global economy continue to exert significant pressure on our exports. The establishment of peace and stability is of paramount importance, not only for enabling our exporters to explore new markets but also for strengthening their foothold in existing ones. On this occasion, I sincerely wish that the month of Ramadan brings peace, prosperity, and harmony to the world, reinforcing our spirit of unity, solidarity, and cooperation.