The Automotive Manufacturers Association (OSD) held its 50th General Assembly at the Istanbul Chamber of Industry's Fazıl Zobu Assembly Hall, with the participation of Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır and Investment Office Vice President Bekir Polat.
This General Assembly marks a significant milestone for the Turkish automotive industry, serving as a platform for shaping the sector's future and strengthening its global competitiveness.
Speaking at the event, Minister Kacır emphasized that under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's leadership, Türkiye has become a key player in global competition by adopting a development model centered on high technology and value-added production. Highlighting Türkiye's achievements in industry and technology, Kacır stated:
"Through our research and innovation ecosystem, planned industrial zones, entrepreneurial culture, and highly skilled workforce, we have transformed Türkiye into a global production hub. Today, Türkiye is the country that exports the widest variety of products to the highest number of destinations in the belt stretching from China to Central Europe."
Minister Kacır further underlined Türkiye's attractiveness for international mobility investments, stating:
"The existing investor interest proves that Türkiye is a major hub for new mobility investments. The world's largest electric vehicle manufacturer, BYD, is establishing a production facility in Manisa with an annual capacity of 150,000 electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, along with an R&D center for mobility technologies. This facility will directly employ 5,000 people and indirectly support nearly 25,000 jobs through its value chain. We are in the final stretch of securing new automotive investments in our country. We know that as we expand the industry and attract new investments, all stakeholders of our automotive ecosystem will become even stronger. In this regard, we will continue to provide the highest level of support to investments that contribute to our country's economic growth."
Investment Office Vice President Bekir Polat also addressed the assembly, reinforcing Türkiye's commitment to fostering a strong investment climate:
"Guided by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's vision of transforming the 'Türkiye Century' into the 'Investment Century,' we are implementing a comprehensive strategy to enhance our investment environment, encourage sustainable and high-value-added investments, and attract global capital."
Polat further elaborated on Türkiye's resilience in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) despite global economic challenges, stating:
"In 2024, despite global uncertainties, Türkiye has successfully maintained its appeal to international investors, securing USD 11.3 billion in FDI. While global FDI declined by an average of 8 percent, Türkiye saw a 5.6 percent increase in FDI inflows. This remarkable achievement is driven by our strengthened investment environment, digitalization efforts, incentives for sustainable investments, investor-friendly regulations, expanding international partnerships, and our continuously advancing production infrastructure."
