ISTANBUL – Turkey is set to become the Eurasian nexus for artificial intelligence (AI) investment and collaboration. A major partnership between the Turkish Presidency Investment Office, the Ministry of Industry and Technology, and KAOUN International (the organizer of the renowned GITEX GLOBAL event) was formalized to launch GITEX Ai Türkiye in Istanbul in September 2026. This move officially positions Turkey as the bridge connecting global capital with the rapidly maturing Eurasian AI ecosystem.
The official signing ceremony, held during GITEX GLOBAL 2025 in Dubai, underscored the confidence of international technology leaders in Turkey’s strategic digital transformation efforts.
The Ecosystem: A Magnet for High-Value Investment
Gökhan Yücel, Head of the Communications Department at the Investment Office, emphasized that GITEX Ai Türkiye will serve as a crucial platform where “investment meets technology,” accelerating domestic AI model development and strengthening digital infrastructure.
Yücel highlighted Turkey’s robust, structurally sound, and investment-ready ecosystem:
- Startup Scale: As of Q3 2025, there are 1,059 active AI startups and approximately 12,000 companies operating within the country’s 106 Technology Development Zones.
- R&D Infrastructure: The country boasts over 1,300 registered R&D and Design Centers, driving innovation across key industrial sectors.
- FDI Commitment: The success of attracting high-quality international capital is evident: $10 billion USD in fixed capital commitment was secured from qualified international direct investment projects in 2024 alone.
- Export Strength: Exports of mid- and high-tech products have surpassed $100 billion USD, demonstrating the capacity for advanced manufacturing and technology implementation.
Strategic Importance and National Vision
Sadullah Uzun, General Manager of National Technology at the Ministry of Industry and Technology, noted the strategic significance of hosting the event: “The decision to host GITEX Ai Türkiye clearly demonstrates the maturity of our technology ecosystem and the international trust placed in Turkey. With our strong production infrastructure, qualified human resources, and dynamic entrepreneurship ecosystem, we are fully prepared to host this major global event in line with our National Technology Move vision.”
The event, scheduled for September 9-10, 2026, at the Istanbul Expo Center, is expected to be the most comprehensive international meeting focused on accelerating AI investment, collaboration, and digital transformation across Turkey and the broader Eurasian region.
Guiding AI and Tech FDI
The launch of GITEX Ai Türkiye provides a focused entry point for foreign tech investors, venture capital (VC) firms, and industrial players seeking digital transformation partners in Turkey. Navigating this fast-paced, incentives-laden ecosystem requires specialized technical and regulatory expertise.
Ali Burç, Managing Partner at Burç Consulting, advises that the event marks a pivot point for tech FDI: “The GITEX platform provides an instant global benchmark for the Turkish AI sector. For VCs and large tech firms, the challenge lies in identifying the best of the 1,000+ startups and structuring a project to leverage Turkey’s R&D tax incentives and Technology Zone benefits. Burç Consulting specializes in performing deep-dive due diligence on scale-up stage Turkish ventures, facilitating technology transfer agreements, and ensuring foreign investors are perfectly positioned to capitalize on the $10 billion investment momentum this event is designed to amplify.”
Istanbul as the AI Investment Gateway
GITEX Ai Türkiye is a landmark event that will accelerate Turkey’s goal of becoming a global AI connector. By bringing together the success of GITEX GLOBAL with Turkey’s thriving technology base, the country is cementing its status as the most strategic and reliable investment gateway between Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
