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The World Economic Forum gathered senior government officials and global business executives in Istanbul on March 27 for a Country Strategy Meeting focused on Türkiye, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivering a special address and engaging in a high-level strategy dialogue. The forum concluded that Türkiye is well placed to deepen its role in global value chains, draw foreign investment and build economic resilience.
The meeting, convened by the WEF in collaboration with the Turkish government, brought together senior political leaders and global business executives at a moment the organization described as critical for dialogue, as shifting geopolitical dynamics and economic fragmentation continue to reshape global priorities.
The WEF framed Türkiye's geographic position, bridging Europe, Asia and the Middle East, as a core strategic advantage amid evolving trade patterns, describing the country as a key anchor for trade, investment and production networks as a G20 economy with a strong industrial base and growing global influence.
The forum further noted that Türkiye's cross-regional connectivity and access to major markets give it a distinct advantage in anchoring international supply chains, a priority that has taken on added urgency as companies and governments worldwide accelerate efforts to diversify production networks away from single points of dependency.
The WEF said Türkiye's evolving reform agenda, combined with a dynamic private sector, offers opportunities to drive sustainable growth and reinforce competitiveness in a rapidly changing environment.
Ahead of the broader gathering, President Erdogan held a closed-door meeting at the Dolmabahce Presidential Office with BlackRock chief executive and WEF co-chair Laurence Douglas Fink, with Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar and WEF senior executive Alois Zwinggi also in attendance. Discussions focused on Türkiye's position in the global economy, its investment potential and its long-term growth outlook.
At the main meeting, Simsek led sessions on economic policy, reform priorities and the investment landscape, while Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan hosted a dedicated session on regional dynamics and geopolitical developments. Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz contributed to discussions on economic priorities and policy direction, and Central Bank Governor Fatih Karahan also participated.
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Participants at the sessions discussed how to improve competitiveness, build economic resilience and attract more foreign investment, while strengthening Türkiye's role as a global hub.
The Istanbul meeting is part of a broader series of country-level dialogues that the WEF convenes throughout the year alongside its flagship annual gathering in Davos. The Geneva-based organization, whose stated mission is improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders to shape global and regional agendas, has increasingly hosted such targeted national strategy meetings as geopolitical realignment reshapes investment flows.
The WEF said the Istanbul meeting advanced Türkiye's ambition to deepen partnerships, enhance its global economic role and reinforce its position as a key nexus for growth in an interconnected world.
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