Turkey warned of industrial decline as chamber cites risk of a ‘U‑turn’

Erdal Bahçıvan, president of the Istanbul Chamber of Industry, cautioned that Turkey faces a serious risk of early deindustrialisation. He described a potential “U‑turn” in the country’s manufacturing sector, warning that without corrective measures the recent gains in industrial exports could reverse and harm the economy.

Bahçıvan outlined four priority areas to restore growth: boosting high‑technology production in sectors such as defence, electronics, semiconductors, biotechnology and artificial intelligence; increasing research‑and‑development spending and university‑industry collaboration; upgrading vocational and technical education to match industry needs; and accelerating digital transformation through factory automation, robotics and the Internet of Things.