DEIK President Nail Olpak said Türkiye and Belgium have complementary economic strengths.
“Belgium is home to world-class companies in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, logistics, high-tech manufacturing and defence,” he said.
He highlighted Türkiye’s economic strength in production, technology and research and development – with its role as a global trade hub and consumer market of 86 million people.
Olpak said the green transition presents significant opportunities for cooperation, combining Belgian sustainability expertise with Türkiye’s rapidly growing renewable energy sector. He also highlighted the potential for cooperation between Belgian high-tech companies and Türkiye’s expanding startup ecosystem.
According to Olpak, defence industry cooperation remains an important and logical area for both countries.
“We all witness that today’s only certainty is uncertainty, which we businesspeople never like,” he said. “The idea of free trade has been transferred to economic blocs as well as political blocs.”
He added that Türkiye’s more than 60-year EU partnership journey should now be viewed from a new perspective.
From regional bridge to global economic powerhouse
Investment and Finance Office head Ahmet Burak Daglioglu said more than 700 Belgian companies currently operate in Türkiye, with total Belgian investment since 2003 exceeding $8 billion.
He said Türkiye recorded a compound annual growth rate of 5.3 percent over the past two decades and recovered rapidly from major global economic shocks. Daglioglu added that the government introduces a new reform agenda every 24 months based on private sector feedback.
He highlighted Türkiye’s young and highly educated workforce, saying investors can easily access skilled technical staff, software developers and senior managers across sectors.
Daglioglu said Türkiye’s strategic location has turned the country into a major connectivity and logistics hub linking three continents.
Massive infrastructure investments have transformed Türkiye from a regional bridge into a global economic powerhouse, he added, noting that the government recently announced a new package of financial and non-financial investment incentives.
Daglioglu concluded by inviting the Belgian business community to a reception in June marking the 20th anniversary of the office.
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