Aegean Exporters Received TRY 2.16 Billion in Support Over 9 Months

Ministry of Trade support channeled to exporters through the Aegean Exporters' Associations (EİB) reached TRY 2 billion 158 million in the January-September period of 2026, up 18.2 percent compared to the same period last year. While overseas trade fair participation and Brand and TURQUALITY programs accounted for 52.4 percent of the support, increases in the fields of global supply chain, e-export and green transformation also drew attention.

The Aegean Exporters' Associations continues its role as intermediary in exporters' access to support provided by the Ministry of Trade in order to increase exporters' competitiveness in international markets. The Association finalized a total of 7,685 support files in the first nine months of 2026.

Öztürk: "State support fuels our exporters' competitiveness"

Noting that state support contributes to companies' competitiveness and growth targets in international markets, Aegean Exporters' Associations Coordinator Chairman Muhammet Öztürk drew attention to the importance of the support for exporters.

Öztürk said, "Entering a new market, becoming permanent in that market and growing our brand requires long-term effort and resources. The support provided by our Ministry of Trade eases the financial burden on our exporters during these processes, contributing to their ability to allocate more resources to marketing, promotion, branding and product development efforts. We find this support very valuable in terms of our companies strengthening their relationships with existing customers, reaching new buyers and developing their international competitiveness," he said.

Fair and branding support stood out

In the January-September period of 2026, the highest support amount was realized in overseas trade fair participation with TRY 674.7 million. This support, which increased by 12.5 percent compared to the same period last year, was followed by Brand and TURQUALITY support, which rose by 45.9 percent to reach TRY 456.1 million. Domestic trade fair participation support increased by 67.3 percent to TRY 258.2 million. Thus, the total of domestic and overseas trade fair participation support reached TRY 932.9 million.

Noting that trade fairs enable exporters to make direct contact with potential buyers, Öztürk said, "Our companies promote their products at trade fairs, establish new business connections and see the expectations of target markets firsthand. While trade fair participation support facilitates the establishment of these contacts, Brand and TURQUALITY support contributes to our companies gaining a stronger and more permanent position in international markets. In order to increase the added value of our exports, we must develop our product quality together with design, promotion and branding," he stated.

Strong increase in global supply chain and e-export support

While global supply chain support stood at TRY 425 thousand in the first nine months of 2025, it rose to TRY 192.3 million in the same period of 2026. The number of files finalized in this scope also increased from 1 to 22. E-export support, on the other hand, rose by 104.1 percent to TRY 79.2 million.

Increases were also recorded in other support items. Overseas unit support rose by 74.7 percent to TRY 110 million, while market entry documents support increased by 14.5 percent to reach TRY 156.3 million. Support for sectoral delegations increased by 53.2 percent to TRY 76.7 million, while UR-GE project support rose by 37.4 percent to TRY 68.1 million.

Within the scope of the Green Deal Compliance Project Support, the support provided for the Responsible® Program increased by 351.4 percent, rising from TRY 3.6 million to TRY 16.1 million. The number of files finalized in this area increased from 6 to 37. Design and product development project support also increased by 19.8 percent to reach TRY 5.7 million.

"Green transformation and design are decisive in the future of exports"

Noting that participation in global supply chains offers important opportunities for companies to establish long-term business relationships with international buyers, EİB Coordinator Chairman Muhammet Öztürk stated that e-export also expands the opportunity to reach customers in different countries through digital channels.

Emphasizing that market entry documents, overseas unit, sectoral delegation and UR-GE support contribute to exporters diversifying their markets and having a presence in different sales channels, Öztürk also touched on the importance of green transformation and design in terms of competitiveness.

Öztürk said, "Sustainability and design are decisive in the future of exports. Developing products in line with buyers' expectations and strengthening our sustainable production competencies support our companies' position in the markets. Support in the fields of green transformation and design therefore constitutes an investment in our future competitiveness. As the Aegean Exporters' Associations, we will continue to mediate our exporters' benefiting from support suitable for their needs. We invite our companies to also consider our Ministry of Trade's support when forming their export plans," he said.

Noting that the Ministry of Trade has formed an export support budget of TRY 45 billion for 2026, Öztürk stated that this amount is planned to be increased to TRY 65 billion in the 2027 budget draft. Öztürk also added that they expect the budget allocated to export support to rise to the level of 1 percent of total exports.