Mehmet Şimşek inaugurates infrastructure projects in Batman

Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek visited his hometown of Batman to inaugurate several infrastructure and urban transformation projects. In the Gercüş district, he opened a Millet Bahçesi (National Garden) and street improvement projects. In Batman city center, he attended the opening of the İluh Park expansion, noting that the transformation of the İluh Stream area has significantly improved the local quality of life.

During the visit, Şimşek engaged in a conversation in Kurdish with a local woman who requested employment for her children. Şimşek responded by stating, "There are many factories in the country. If our youth want to work, there is work here. Additionally, when new factories open in these areas, young people will be able to find jobs."

These comments drew criticism from YENİ Party Istanbul Deputy Özgür Karabat. Karabat challenged the Minister's claims, citing Central Bank and TÜİK data to argue that industrial investment appetite and manufacturing production have significantly declined, suggesting that the country is moving away from production and toward an interest-based economy.