ISTANBUL — President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan highlighted Türkiye’s growing export base, robust economic expansion, and international trade footprint on Saturday, while issuing a sharp warning that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence must remain firmly grounded in human values and social ethics.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 21st MÜSİAD EXPO International Trade Fair and the 29th International Business Forum in Istanbul, Erdoğan pointed to a dramatic transformation in the country’s commercial landscape over the past two decades. He noted that the number of Turkish companies engaging in international trade has experienced a massive surge since the early 2000s, reflecting a broader economic strategy aimed at positioning Türkiye as a central hub for global commerce, manufacturing, and investment.
“In 2002, the number of our companies exporting was only 33,000. In 2025, exactly 168,000 of our companies carried out exports,” Erdoğan told the audience of business leaders, entrepreneurs, and international delegates, presenting the statistics as clear evidence of the country’s expanding integration into global value chains.
The four-day MÜSİAD EXPO, which officially opened Wednesday at the Istanbul Expo Center, served as a massive networking and commercial hub. It brought together Turkish manufacturers, exporters, investors, and international buyers across a diverse array of critical sectors, including construction, machinery, energy, food, agriculture, health, textiles, and automotive.
Türkiye’s Global Trade Reach and Economic Footprint
Organizers of the prominent trade event reported strong participation figures, with more than 300 companies exhibiting their products and services. The expo drew immense international interest, attracting more than 50,000 professional visitors from 114 countries alongside over 400 international buying delegations representing more than 70 nations.
Erdoğan expressed satisfaction with the trajectory of the event, noting that it has successfully evolved over the years from a traditional trade fair into a multifaceted platform for international commerce, high-level investment, and business diplomacy. He lauded the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (MÜSİAD) for its pivotal role in bridging Türkiye’s domestic production and commercial capabilities with lucrative international markets across multiple continents.
Highlighting the scale and institutional weight of the business association, Erdoğan noted that MÜSİAD boasts more than 14,000 members both within Türkiye and abroad. Collectively, the organization’s network represents some 60,000 businesses, provides employment to approximately 3 million people, and maintains active branches and representatives in 84 countries worldwide.
MÜSİAD organizers have consistently emphasized that the biennial expo is intentionally designed to serve as a major catalyst for establishing enduring international business connections. By gathering investors, industrialists, entrepreneurs, and foreign buyers under one roof, the association aims to systematically expand Turkish companies’ access to new and emerging global markets.
Erdoğan Warns AI Must Keep a Human Touch
Beyond traditional trade and industrial manufacturing, the concurrent 29th International Business Forum heavily focused on the transformative power of artificial intelligence and its profound implications for people, knowledge systems, and the modern business world. The overarching theme of this year’s forum was “The Transformation of Humanity and the Business World in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
Addressing the forum, Erdoğan described artificial intelligence as one of the defining technological turning points in modern human history. He observed that its ripple effects are already being actively felt across vital sectors such as health care, education, transportation, agriculture, and the broader global economy. Furthermore, he noted that increasingly sophisticated AI models and robotics are fundamentally reshaping patterns of production and consumption while simultaneously generating innovative opportunities for forward-thinking entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and investors.
However, the Turkish president issued a strong cautionary note regarding the unchecked acceleration of technological development without adequate consideration for the human element.
“If you do not give the necessary importance to the human factor while developing artificial intelligence, you may encounter results that are the exact opposite of what you desire,” Erdoğan warned.
He argued that rapid technological progress should never come at the expense of core human values, social responsibility, and robust business ethics. He urged governments, corporate entities, academic institutions, and civil society organizations to carefully evaluate and manage the broader, long-term consequences of AI-driven societal change.
Touting Consecutive Quarters of Economic Growth
Shifting focus to domestic economic performance, Erdoğan maintained that Türkiye has successfully navigated global uncertainties, remaining steadfastly on a path of economic stability and continuous expansion. He reported that the Turkish economy has now registered uninterrupted growth for 24 consecutive quarters.
“Türkiye’s economy has experienced uninterrupted growth for the last 24 quarters. We are currently the 16th-largest economy in the world and the sixth-largest in Europe,” Erdoğan stated.
Adding further context to the country’s macroeconomic indicators, he noted that the per capita national income reached $18,103 in 2025—a figure that has also been publicly cited by Trade Minister Ömer Bolat based on official government and economic data.
Erdoğan reiterated that the government remains fully committed to pursuing sustainable and balanced economic growth under the framework of the new Medium-Term Program, which was announced 20 days prior to the summit. He reiterated that the continuous expansion of the nation’s export base and the rising number of exporting firms serve as undeniable proof of the resilience and adaptability of Turkish enterprises in the face of international economic headwinds.
Unyielding Support for the Palestinian People in Gaza
In the latter portion of his address, the Turkish president addressed geopolitical matters, turning his attention to the ongoing war in Gaza and reiterating Türkiye’s unwavering diplomatic stance on the conflict. He asserted that Ankara will continue to fiercely advocate for the rights of Palestinians and demand international accountability regarding alleged war crimes committed in the region.
“Palestinian people are not alone or abandoned. Our brothers and sisters in Gaza are not alone in their search for rights and justice,” Erdoğan said.
He emphasized that Türkiye will continue to stand firmly with populations it considers oppressed, arguing that individuals and entities responsible for genocide must face definitive legal and historical accountability to prevent future atrocities.
“If those who commit genocide are not brought to justice, if they are not held accountable before the law and history, the same brutality will happen again,” Erdoğan said.
He launched strong criticisms against Israeli policies, pledging that Türkiye will persistently oppose what he termed the actions of an occupying power.
“Those who think themselves chosen and are occupying will have their masks removed,” Erdoğan remarked. “I want it to be known that, whatever the cost, we will stand against the oppressor and alongside the oppressed.”
Addressing international legal frameworks, Erdoğan argued that suspects accused of war crimes belong in courtrooms rather than behind international political podiums or diplomatic stages.
“The place for war criminals is not the U.N. podium, but courtrooms where they will answer for the killings they committed and the blood they shed,” he stated.
The president concluded his remarks on international affairs by suggesting that Türkiye’s vocal and unyielding position on Gaza has successfully inspired other nations to articulate their concerns more openly on the global stage.
“Türkiye, with its conscientious, honorable, moral, and courageous stance, has both given hope to the oppressed and encouraged other countries,” he said.
The closing ceremony officially brought the 2026 MÜSİAD EXPO to a close, wrapping up four intensive days characterized by bilateral trade meetings, high-level panel discussions, diplomatic engagements, and complex business negotiations aimed at cementing long-term commercial partnerships across international borders.