GITEX Ai Türkiye 2026 debuts in Istanbul to showcase AI and digital economy

The inaugural GITEX Ai Türkiye 2026 has launched at the Istanbul Expo Centre, marking a significant milestone for the nation's digital economy. Hosted by the Presidency's Investment and Finance Office in partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Technology, the event brings together over 350 exhibitors, 150 investors, and technology leaders from 70 countries to discuss AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and fintech.

At the summit, Trendyol Group CEO Erdem İnan highlighted the role of artificial intelligence as a ‘smart business partner’ rather than just a tool. He noted that the platform enables over 120,000 local producers and SMEs to engage in e-export across 36 countries, using AI to analyze cultural and geographic data to match products with the right markets.

Other major participants included Huawei, which emphasized the necessity of strong local cloud infrastructure to turn AI into scalable economic value, and ASUS, which showcased new AI-driven server platforms and high-performance computing solutions. The event aligns with Türkiye's broader AI Action Plan, which aims to build 1GW of data center capacity and mobilize significant private sector investment for AI infrastructure.