Şimşek: Interest Rate Cuts & Economic Actors Summit – Ekonomim.com

The “Economy Horizon Tour ’26” summit was held to shed light on the future of the Turkish economy and to evaluate the 2026 projections and strategic road maps of the sectors. The giant meeting held at the Istanbul Financial Center, Ziraat Bank Auditorium brought together the decision makers of the economic world under the same roof.

What Kind of Economy is Media Chairman Hakan GüldağHe made the opening speech at the Economy’s Horizon Tour ’26 summit.

Hakan Güldağ started his speech by thanking those who attended the meeting held in Ramadan. Telling the story of the establishment of Ekonomim.com, he said that they created Ekonomim.com because they could not get the domain name Ekonomi.com while establishing the Ekonomi Newspaper, and that it turned into a strong economic media brand over time.

Stating that Ekonomim media group operates with the understanding of independent journalism, Güldağ stated that Ekonomim.com is: One of the most visited economic news sites in Türkiye, among the top 10 among all news sites, and among the top 500 sites in the world.

He emphasized that they collected news from the field with a team of approximately 180 people and more than 20 representatives in Anatolia.

He said that they plan to offer personalized content supported by artificial intelligence in the future, but the news will not be written by artificial intelligence.

Stating that there are important problems in the real sector and that they are following them from the field, Güldağ stated that they conveyed the evaluations regarding the economic management. He stated that there is high trust and expectation especially in the Minister of Treasury and Finance, Mehmet Şimşek, and that he thinks that the messages to be given at the meeting will be listened to attentively.

Leading company leaders of the real sector shared their 2026 visions

In the opening speeches, Istanbul Financial Center General Manager Ahmet İhsan Erdem also took part. After Erdem’s speech, emphasizing that IFM is an important complex, a conference was held representing the sectors under the moderation of Vahap Munyar. Fuat Tosyalı, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tosyalı Holding, Martı Hotels Chairman of the Board Oya Narin ve Tiryaki Holding Chairman of the Board Ahmet Tiryakioğlu made an important assessment.

Speaking at the “Economy’s Horizon Tour ’26” summit organized by Ekonomim.com, Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek gave important messages regarding the economy.

Highlights from Minister Şimşek’s speech are as follows:

Today we will take a horizon tour. While taking a horizon tour, it is impossible to both understand and explain Türkiye without explaining the major tectonic movements in the global economy.

The topics I will talk about today are as follows: New normals in the world economy, is Türkiye ready for geopolitical/geoeconomic breaks? Macroeconomic stabilization and reform program.

Uncertainty in trade policies remains high

We face serious restrictions on trade. Although uncertainty in trade policies peaked in April last year, it is still high.

There are tensions in every corner of the world. There are hot conflicts. The estimated defense industry expenditures in the world will reach 6.6 billion dollars in 2035. The world is making preparations, are we ready too? we will talk.

If we do not read what is happening in the world correctly, we will be doing an injustice to the program.

Dear representatives of our business world, you have started to feel the intense competition in the field. It would be simplistic to attribute most of this to the implemented economic program.

If we don’t read correctly what is happening here in the world, you will be doing an injustice to both yourself and the program.

Is Türkiye ready for geopolitical/geoeconomic ruptures?

At the meetings we attended, all the speakers expressed what the famous Italian philosopher Gramsi said. The old world is dying, the new world is in birth pains, and monsters are on the loose during this period.

The first topic was protectionism in trade. There are fragmentations, but Türkiye can actually be seen as one of the most prepared countries. We have agreements with 54 countries. A significant portion of our exports go to countries with which we have agreements.

We are not immune, we are relatively more protected. We are investing in connectivity, and on the other hand, we are investing in the construction of the central corridor. We are centrally located on the main corridor from China to London. On the one hand, we built the middle corridor. On the other hand, we are in the process of building the Gulf along with stability in Syria.

We make new generation agreements

Ms. Oya just mentioned it on the services side. We are making new generation agreements. Agriculture is one of our most critical agendas, along with public procurement and services, as Türkiye enters a wholesale reform process to increase productivity.

We also need cooperation with the EU in Asia. We all have a lot of work to do. Come to countries with capital and let us do business with you in a third country. Where is the capital surplus, where is the growth? We need to focus here.

According to Google, Türkiye is the center of the world, by the way Çorum.

Health tourism also has great potential

We are the 20th largest exporter. I believe that we can easily reach the top 10. We are in the top five in the world in tourism. Our service export surplus reached 65 billion dollars last year. We will continue to provide the necessary incentives and support. Health tourism is also important to us. There is great potential. There was a post from England recently and I shared it, and it caused a stir.

As of last year, 380 thousand students from 198 countries are studying in Türkiye. We aim to strengthen our place in the top 5 in the world.

We have significant experience in construction after China.

In the construction industry, we have significant experience in this field after China. We just did a study on the need for reconstruction. If the world calmed down a little, there is room for $1 trillion in the next 10 years.

Hybrid innovation model in the defense industry

Some of the important companies in the defense industry have now started to produce magnificent products in the field of health. Energy technologies and agricultural technologies offer great opportunities in this field.

We are in a good place in artificial intelligence preparation

We are in a good place in Türkiye’s artificial intelligence readiness index. To those who ask what we are doing in Somalia, we say: We are establishing a space base and that’s why we are there. Data centers are being established. Think of them like a refinery.

The real sector should consider how to increase competition with artificial intelligence

One of the most important things the real sector needs to do is to think about how to increase competition by using artificial intelligence.

Are all these developments and preparations complete or not? Not. Do we, as the public, have the resources to fulfill our responsibilities? We will allocate more resources to transformation in the industry.

Even if you don’t want it, we see the transformation. You asked for a tour of the horizon and we are drawing it.

Energy prices will fall in the long term

Global energy prices will fall in the long term. In the short term, tensions are rising in our immediate surroundings.

A decline in energy commodity prices is expected; This situation is in favor of Türkiye.

Inflation will continue to fall in 2026

We reduced inflation in 2025 despite multiple simultaneous shocks. We achieved structural improvement in the current account balance.

We maintained financial discipline. Growth continued.

We are not perfectionists. We don’t want being a perfectionist to get in the way of progress. Why should inflation fall in 2026? Because monetary, fiscal and incomes policy continues to be decisive.

As they say, you can’t get anywhere with monetary policy. Has anyone said this? First, it was said that there was no program. Then it was said that it would not be successful. Then it was said that it was based on hot money. For the first time, this government took a step against hot money. We increased the rates corresponding to that money. I don’t know what the next excuse will be.

We cannot solve rent inflation with monetary policy

Are there any items that are above headline inflation? Rent inflation. We have introduced a 25 percent rent limit. Then they made up for it when they removed it.

We cannot solve rent inflation with monetary policy. We are increasing the housing supply.

The decline in service inflation will continue, albeit with a delay.

Food inflation is also an important topic. While the whole world reduces prices during special periods, food prices increase in February due to Ramadan. This is something to think about.

Let go of worries, focus on opportunities

Türkiye’s soft spot since the Ottoman Empire has been its current account deficit. We reduced the fragility of the current account deficit.
Gross external financing need decreased. The ratio of gross external debt stock to GDP decreased. We tell you to stop worrying and focus on opportunities. We tell these things every day. But now focus on the opportunities.

Banks reflect the decline in interest rates, whether early or late

There is credit growth. Does it go to the right areas? SMEs cannot access credit. Have export credits increased? Its share in total loans has doubled. Is it possible to invest in this environment? Made.

Are interest rates falling? CBRT cuts interest rates, but don’t banks reflect this? It reflects. Banks, early or late, reflect the falling interest rates on loan rates.

We do not have any loan restrictions for those who want to invest.

Let’s come to 2026. We decided to reduce the domestic debt rollover ratio. 51 percent of loans are not included in the limitation.

We do not have any loan restrictions for those who want to invest. There are no restrictions on exports; We have no credit restrictions for agriculture, tradesmen or earthquake zones.

We offer support for high value-added production

Contact SMEs, we offer Treasury guaranteed support. As long as you produce and maintain employment, we offer manufacturing industry financing. Far below market interest rates, tradesmen and industrialists were not offered as many opportunities as in this period.

Our labor-intensive sectors are in trouble. We offer minimum wage exceptions and investment incentive R&D exceptions. I can’t find anything bad to say anywhere in the picture.