Entering Türkiye in 2026: New opportunities

Opportunities, Investment Trends and What International Companies Need to Know

Türkiye has long been described as a bridge between Europe and Asia. For international companies assessing the market today, however, its relevance goes beyond geography.

From Market Opportunity to Market Position

With a population of more than 86 million, a diversified industrial base, established logistics infrastructure and a growing technology ecosystem, Türkiye combines a sizeable domestic market with a strategic position connecting Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. Türkiye's population reached 86.1 million at the end of 2025, including approximately 12.7 million people aged 15–24. Source: TurkStat

Investment activity provides another indication of the market's significance. Türkiye attracted USD 13.1 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2025, an increase of 12.2% year on year. Wholesale and retail accounted for 32% of inflows, manufacturing for 31%, and information and communication for 14%. Source: Investment and Finance Office

The longer-term footprint is also substantial: Türkiye attracted approximately USD 288 billion in FDI between 2003 and 2025, while the number of companies with international capital reached 86,926 by mid-2025. Source: Investment and Finance Office

For international businesses evaluating Türkiye, the question is therefore increasingly not simply whether there is an opportunity, but where that opportunity lies — and how to enter or expand in the market effectively.

Where the Investment Momentum Is Building for Opportunities

Türkiye's investment landscape is broad, but several areas stand out for international companies considering market entry or expansion.

Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Investment

Manufacturing remains one of Türkiye's strongest investment pillars. In 2025, it accounted for 31% of total FDI inflows. Source: Investment and Finance Office

The country's greenfield investment pipeline provides further evidence of the depth of its industrial ecosystem. According to Türkiye's 2025 FDI Projects Report, industrial machinery and equipment generated 39 greenfield projects, while automotive components accounted for 31. Source: 2025 Türkiye FDI Projects Report

For international manufacturers, this creates opportunities not only in production, but across supply chains, engineering, industrial technologies and associated B2B services.

Technology, Software and Digital Infrastructure

Technology is becoming an increasingly important part of Türkiye's investment proposition. Software and IT services accounted for 41 greenfield FDI projects in 2025, making the sector one of the country's leading categories by project count. Source: 2025 Türkiye FDI Projects Report

The digital infrastructure story is particularly noteworthy. Communications attracted approximately USD 6.8 billion in greenfield investment CAPEX in 2025. Data centres accounted for eight projects and approximately USD 4.8 billion, while 5G investments contributed another USD 1.85 billion. Source: 2025 Türkiye FDI Projects Report

This creates a potentially attractive environment for international companies operating across software, cloud infrastructure, AI, cybersecurity, telecommunications and related B2B technologies.

Logistics and Regional Connectivity

Türkiye's geographic position remains one of its most important structural advantages. Approximately USD 280 billion was invested in transportation and logistics between 2003 and 2024, according to the Investment and Finance Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye. Source: Investment and Finance Office

Its proximity to European, Middle Eastern, Central Asian and North African markets means that international companies can evaluate Türkiye not only as an end market, but also as a manufacturing, logistics, service and management base for wider regional operations.

Energy and the Green Transition

Türkiye's energy transformation is creating opportunities across renewable energy, energy infrastructure, technology and advanced manufacturing. Renewable energy remains an important part of the investment landscape, while Türkiye's broader FDI strategy places green and digital transformation among its priorities. Source: Investment and Finance Office

For international businesses, the opportunity therefore extends beyond energy generation itself to technology, equipment, engineering, infrastructure and services supporting the transition.

A Changing Investment Incentive Environment

International companies evaluating Türkiye should also consider the country's evolving investment incentive architecture. The current framework includes sectoral and regional incentives, project-based incentives through the HIT-30 programme, R&D and Design Centre incentives, and Free Zone incentives. The system provides different combinations of support depending on the nature, location and strategic importance of an investment. Source: Investment Incentives Guide

In 2025, 432 investment incentive certificates were issued to international investors, representing TRY 109.5 billion in investment and projected employment for approximately 16,700 people. Source: Investment Incentives Guide

The general corporate income tax rate is currently 25%, while different provisions apply to specified financial institutions and qualifying export income. Companies should, of course, obtain current professional tax and legal advice when structuring an investment. Source: Tax Guide

A Significant 2026 Development: Qualified Service Centers

One of the developments international companies should watch particularly closely came into force in June 2026. Türkiye introduced a Qualified Service Center regime as part of a wider investment and tax reform package. The regime is designed to encourage multinational companies to locate regional and global management, coordination and support functions in Türkiye. Source: Investment and Finance Office

This is strategically important.

The Türkiye opportunity is no longer limited to companies establishing factories, selling products or opening local subsidiaries. The policy direction also seeks to strengthen the country's role as a location from which international companies can manage broader regional functions.

For multinational companies reconsidering how they structure operations across Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and adjacent markets, Türkiye therefore deserves consideration not only as a market, but potentially as a regional operating base.

Investing Is Only the First Step

The investment case, however, is only one part of a successful market-entry decision.

Establishing a legal entity, appointing a distributor, acquiring a company or opening an office does not automatically establish a company's position in the market.

International companies entering Türkiye also need to understand a less tangible local infrastructure:

·       Who are the stakeholders that matter?

·       How is the company, its category and its leadership likely to be perceived?

·       Which local issues could affect corporate reputation?

·       How should a global proposition be translated into a credible local narrative?

·       Who should represent the company publicly in Türkiye?

·       How should the organisation communicate with business media, industry stakeholders and other influential communities?

These questions become particularly important when a company has significant ambitions in Türkiye but does not yet have a fully developed local communications function.

Global Strategy Needs Local Intelligence

A common market-entry challenge is assuming that a global positioning can simply be replicated locally.

In practice, a company's global narrative may require significant localisation because the stakeholder environment, competitive context, media landscape and business expectations in Türkiye can differ from those of its home market.

That does not mean changing the global brand.

It means understanding how to make the global proposition locally relevant and credible.

This can involve market and communications intelligence before entry, stakeholder mapping, corporate positioning, executive communications, launch strategy and ongoing reputation management.

For companies without a sizeable local team, having experienced senior advisers who understand both international corporate expectations and the Turkish business environment can help bridge that gap.

From Market Entry to Market Position

GIS Consult has worked with international companies across different stages of this journey.

Our experience includes supporting international brands entering Türkiye, helping multinational executives establish local thought leadership, mapping complex stakeholder environments, and translating global corporate narratives into locally relevant communications strategies.

The objective is not simply to generate visibility.

It is to help international companies build the understanding, relationships, credibility and reputation required to operate effectively in Türkiye.

Because successful market entry is not complete when a company arrives.

It is complete when the market understands why the company is here, what it represents and why its presence matters.

Planning to Enter or Expand in Türkiye?

Whether you are assessing the market, preparing a launch, expanding an existing operation or strengthening your company's position in Türkiye, communications and stakeholder intelligence should be considered early in the process — not after the investment decision has already been implemented.

GIS Consult helps international companies navigate Türkiye through market-entry communications, stakeholder intelligence, executive positioning and strategic communications.

Talk to GIS Consult about your Türkiye plans.