Türkiye’s AI market gets a global showcase in Istanbul

GITEX Ai Türkiye 2026 will debut in Istanbul on Sept. 9-10, putting Türkiye’s fast-growing tech and AI economy in front of global investors, startups and policymakers. The event lands as Türkiye pushes billions into data centers, AI infrastructure and talent, while its ICT market heads toward US$58 billion by 2031.

Why it matters: - Türkiye is trying to turn its position between Europe and Asia into a larger role in the global AI supply chain. - The country’s ICT market was valued at US$38 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach US$58 billion by 2031. - Türkiye is pairing that market growth with public and private AI investment, data center buildout and talent training. - The debut of GITEX Ai Türkiye gives that strategy a global sales pitch to investors, startups and tech buyers.

What happened: - GITEX Ai Türkiye 2026 will take place at Istanbul Expo Centre on 9-10 September 2026. - The event is the inaugural Türkiye edition of the GITEX tech and AI network. - Organizers say the two-day event will bring together 300-plus enterprise and startup exhibitors, investors, government policymakers, speakers and thousands of tech executives. - The event is hosted by the Investment and Finance Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, known as Invest in Türkiye, in strategic partnership with Türkiye’s Ministry of Industry and Technology. - GITEX and inD, the joint venture between Dubai World Trade Centre and Informa, power and organize the event.

The details: - Türkiye allocated US$3 billion this year for data center and AI investments. - Türkiye is also seeking US$10 billion in private sector funding for AI innovation. - The government wants to build 1 gigawatt of data center capacity by 2030. - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced plans in June 2026 to train 10,000 advanced AI specialists and 100,000 AI application professionals under the AI Action Plan. - Türkiye’s startup ecosystem raised US$559 million in the first quarter of 2026, more than seven times the same period a year earlier. - The country now has 114 technoparks hosting more than 13,000 startups and more than 1,700 R&D and design centers. - GITEX Ai Türkiye will cover AI, 5G and telecom, cloud and connectivity, cybersecurity and dual-use tech, data centers, e-commerce, fintech, gaming, green tech, health tech, mobility, quantum computing and smart manufacturing. - Confirmed exhibitors and participants span five continents, including Colombia, Peru, Nigeria, Tunisia, the UAE, Jordan, Poland, Portugal, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan and Singapore. - Google Cloud, HPE, NVIDIA, ASUS, Dell Technologies, SAP and TrendAI are among the global companies involved. - Regional participants include Trendyol, Türkiye’s US$16.5 billion e-commerce company, Andevos and Halkbank, which is a Platinum Sponsor. - Google Cloud’s participation follows its 2025 announcement of a new Google Cloud region in Türkiye tied to a 10-year, US$2 billion investment with Turkcell. - Turkcell serves 46 million subscribers. - HPE and NVIDIA are gold sponsors. - fixcloud, Odoo, Sangfor, Redington and Forcepoint are also taking part across cloud, enterprise resource planning, cybersecurity, value distribution and network security. - More than 100 investors from 20 countries, managing US$50 billion in assets, are expected to meet technopark-incubated startups. - Participating innovation hubs include Tech Talk Partners UMV, ITU ARI Teknokent, Teknopark Ankara, Antalya Teknokent, Giresun Teknopark, Medeniyet Teknopark and YTU Yildiz Teknopark.

Between the lines: - Türkiye is using a flagship international event to frame itself as a regional AI hub, not just a large domestic market. - The mix of cloud, chip, telecom, industrial and fintech players suggests the country wants to attract full-stack investment, not only startup funding. - The startup and technopark numbers point to a broader effort to spread innovation beyond Istanbul and Ankara. - The event’s international exhibitor mix suggests Türkiye wants to position itself as a corridor for cross-border business across Eurasia.

What’s next: - GITEX Ai Türkiye 2026 will run in Istanbul on 9-10 September. - Organizers expect the event to drive partnerships, manufacturing collaboration, capital flows and talent exchanges. - Türkiye’s AI and data center plans now move from announcements toward execution, especially on funding, infrastructure and workforce training.

The bottom line: - Türkiye is trying to convert its geographic location, startup base and public investment plans into a bigger share of the global AI economy.