Official: Turkish defence industry, economy see significant growth

Türkiye has firmly positioned itself as a global leader in several industrial and defence sectors, according to Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacıroğlu, who spoke at the International Economic Summit (UEZ 2026) in Sapanca, Sakarya province.

Kacıroğlu outlined Türkiye's impressive strides in both its economic growth and technological advancements, noting that the country’s defence industry has entered the ranks of the world’s top five in key areas that, in his words, “have changed the paradigm of warfare," Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media. 

The minister emphasised Türkiye's increasing role in the global economy, highlighting a notable rise in its share of global trade—from 0.55% in 2002 to 1.07% today. Similarly, the country's share of global industrial value added has more than doubled, from 0.69% to 1.38%, reflecting the country’s growing industrial capacity and economic influence.

Kacıroğlu also drew attention to Türkiye's industrial growth, noting that the country's industrial value added skyrocketed from $41 billion in 2002 to $246 billion in 2025. He asserted that, based on global average rates, this figure would have been approximately half, underscoring Türkiye's exceptional economic performance.

A key focus of Kacıroğlu’s remarks was the defence sector, where Türkiye has made significant breakthroughs. The minister pointed out that Türkiye now controls roughly two-thirds of the global market for military drones. The country is also becoming a leading player in various military manufacturing sectors in Europe. These achievements come as Türkiye actively enhances its high-tech production and export capabilities, with $112 billion worth of high-tech and medium-high-tech goods exported last year alone. Growth in high-tech exports alone was recorded at 12.5% in 2025.

Türkiye's remarkable defence industry performance is primarily attributed to independent development. Kacıroğlu reported that the sector’s exports had skyrocketed from $248 million to more than $10 billion in just a few years. As a result, Türkiye now ranks 11th globally in defence exports. The industry currently oversees over 1,400 active research and development projects, with contracts valued at a combined total of $150 billion.

The minister also touched on Türkiye's significant investment in research and development (R&D), which accounts for around 1.5% of the country’s GDP—approximately $20 billion. The private sector adds another $14 billion annually to R&D efforts. There are now more than 100 technology parks across Türkiye, fostering innovation and housing thousands of start-ups.

In closing, Kacıroğlu reinforced Türkiye's ongoing economic growth trajectory, pointing to the country’s resilience during the pandemic. He noted that Türkiye's industrial output is currently 31% higher than it was in January 2020, whereas many European nations are still struggling to recover to pre-pandemic levels.

By Sabina Mammadli