Erdoğan Highlights Turkey’s Export Boom and AI Caution at Closing MÜSİAD Expo

Speaking at the closing ceremony of Istanbul’s 21st MÜSİAD EXPO and the concurrent 29th International Business Forum, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan emphasized the dramatic increase in Turkish exporters, from 33,000 in 2002 to 168,000 in 2025, as evidence of the country’s growing role in world trade. He praised the four-day exhibition, which gathered over 300 firms and attracted tens of thousands of visitors from more than a hundred nations, for transforming into a platform for investment and business diplomacy.

Erdoğan highlighted MÜSİAD’s 14,000 members, 60,000 represented businesses and a workforce of about three million, with a presence in 84 countries. The forum’s AI theme prompted him to call for technology that respects human values, warning that neglecting the human factor could produce opposite-desired outcomes. He also cited Turkey’s 24-quarter streak of economic growth, its rank as the world’s 16th-largest economy, and a per-capita income of $18,103 in 2025, while affirming continued commitment to the newly announced Medium-Term Program. Finally, Erdoğan condemned the Gaza war, pledged ongoing support for Palestinians, and urged accountability for alleged war crimes.