Turkey's Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz highlights construction sector's $563 bn global projects

Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz told a construction summit in Ankara that the sector is a strategic driver of Turkey's economy, accounting for roughly 6% of gross domestic product and supporting the fight against inflation. He noted that the sector grew at an average annual rate of 6.8% between 2002 and 2025, outpacing the overall economy’s 5.3% growth, and now directly employs more than 2.2 million people.

Yılmaz said Turkish contracting firms have undertaken projects worth about $563 billion in 138 countries, placing 45 Turkish companies among the 250 largest international contractors – the second‑largest count after China. Export sales of construction‑related products reached $35.5 billion last year, representing around 13% of Turkey’s total merchandise exports.

He added that post‑conflict reconstruction in the region will create new opportunities, and emphasized the need for digital and green transformation, including AI‑driven technologies and urban renewal, which he described as a “life‑saving” necessity for resilient cities.