Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to our 11th annual Investment Forum in London.

I extend a warm welcome to those who have traveled from Türkiye, particularly my colleagues from Invest In Türkiye. I would also like to express gratitude to EEL for their efforts, as well as to our co-hosts, Ciftci and Clifford Chance.

The world is currently navigating through turbulent times, with many challenges persisting.

-The pandemic,

-irregular migration,

-the war in Ukraine,

-the ongoing conflict in Palestine and Middle East,

-great power rivalry,

-increased protectionism,

-climate change,

-and aging populations have all had direct impacts on our economies and societies.

In our increasingly globalized world, no one is immune to these challenges, and the butterfly effect is indeed real.

TheTurkish economy has faced its share of these negative trends in recent years.

However, with the implementation of the new economic program, we are swiftly moving in the right direction. I won't delve into the specifics here, but we are adhering to a rigorous plan to:

-Achieve macroeconomic and financial stability

-Achieve sustainable growth

-Reduce inflation

-Strengthen public finances in accordance with principles of transparency, predictability, and compliance with international norms

-Accelerate structural transformation to decrease the current account deficit.

Those familiar with Türkiye will agree that resilience is a cornerstone of our society and economy. Despite enduring prolonged periods of the Cold War, various regional conflicts, internal upheavals in neighboring regions, and internal shocks, Türkiye has managed to thrive as a robust economy.

In addition to our resilience and ability to swiftly adapt to change, Türkiye has many other strengths:

Our strategic location positions Türkiye as a vital hub bridging Asia, Europe, and Africa. This geographical advantage not only enhances trade and energy connectivity but also allows us to engage economically and culturally with diverse regions and civilizations.

Therefore, it is no surprise to see Turkish goods, contractors, and manufacturers operating across the globe, supported by the entrepreneurial spirit of our nation.

From Asia to Germany, Türkiye serves as a robust manufacturing base with strong export capabilities. Our services sector, particularly in tourism, transportation, and construction, is globally renowned.

Türkiye ranks among the top five tourist destinations worldwide, and Turkish Airlines stands as one of the largest carriers serving the most destinations.

Türkiye offers a compelling investment environment, highlighted by:

- Direct access to EU markets through the Customs Union,

- Strong economic growth,

- A young and skilled workforce,

- A resilient banking sector,

- Advanced digitalization and a robust commitment to green transformation.

Since 2003, we have attracted over 260 billion dollars in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Last year alone, Türkiye secured approximately 11 billion dollars in FDI, with 53 percent originating from EU countries.

From manufacturing and technology to renewable energy and infrastructure projects, Türkiye presents a diverse array of sectors ripe for investment.

As we celebrated the centenary of our Republic last year, we set ambitious goals for our next century, aiming to elevate Türkiye into the ranks of the world’s top-ten economies.

We are confident that achieving this target will entail increased trade, exports, production, FDI, innovation, and investments in new technologies, all of which we envision accomplishing with our partners and allies.

The UK stands as a crucial strategic partner in this regard. We already maintain strong ties with British businesses and financial institutions. The UK currently ranks as the third-largest foreign investor in our country, with robust support from UKEF and EBRD for major projects.

We are prepared to initiate negotiations to upgrade our free trade agreement, expanding its scope to encompass trade in services, investment, the digital economy, advanced agricultural concessions, and sustainability.

Our objective is to deepen trade relations for mutual economic growth and to bolster support for our businesses.

As two non-EU NATO allies, our relationship is rooted in strategic cooperation. We will continue to work with the new British government across all domains.

As Turkiye, we are committed to supporting private enterprises to foster increased investments and partnerships.

Both our Investment Office and Embassy in London stand ready to assist prospective investors interested in Türkiye.

So, Türkiye is ready to welcome you.

Thank you for your attention.