The “2025 Assessment and 2026 Expectations” programme was held at the Head Office of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) with the participation of the Minister of Treasury and Finance of the Republic of Türkiye, Mr. Mehmet Şimşek. MÜSİAD Branch Presidents, Members of the Board of Directors and sector representatives took part in the programme.
The programme comprehensively addressed global economic developments, the current outlook of the Turkish economy, the disinflation process, access to finance, the expectations of the real sector and policy priorities for 2026.
Burhan Özdemir: “The Real Sector Is Not Hopeless, But Cautious”
Delivering the opening speech of the programme, MÜSİAD President Burhan Özdemir emphasized that 2025 was not an easy year for the real sector and drew attention to the pressure on the business world from rising protectionism in global trade, from geopolitical risks and from financing costs.
In his speech, President Özdemir made the following statements:
“The main purpose of our presence here today is not to present a list of demands; it is to share, within a constructive framework, the pulse of the real sector coming from the field and to contribute to the road map for 2026. For our companies, 2025 has been a transition year in which costs and uncertainties were managed, rather than a ‘year of balance’.”
Sharing his assessments on the current mood of the real sector, Özdemir stated that the business world is not hopeless but is adopting a cautious stance, and continued his remarks as follows:
“The real sector today is not hopeless; but it is cautious. A significant portion of our members are in a ‘wait-and-see’ position as they enter 2026. This does not show that the desire to invest has disappeared; it shows that risks such as financing costs, predictability and weak domestic and foreign demand have to be managed at the same time.”
“Access to Finance Is the Most Critical Item of 2026”
Touching in his speech also upon the results of the field surveys conducted with MÜSİAD members, Burhan Özdemir emphasized that the item that will affect the economy most in 2026 is, by a wide margin, access to finance.
Özdemir made the following assessment on the subject:
“Today, for the real sector, the issue is not merely obtaining credit; it is the maturity and cost of the credit and its compatibility with the cash flow of the investment. Beyond classic bank loans, our companies have begun to talk more about equity, partnership and capital market instruments. This picture shows that the credit channel has narrowed in the eyes of the real sector.”
Touching also upon expectations regarding the tax system and structural reform, Özdemir stated that the priority of the real sector is the simplification of the system rather than tax rates, and said, “Making tax legislation simple, predictable and manageable will directly affect the appetite for production and investment.”
Mehmet Şimşek: “Disinflation Will Open a Strong Window of Opportunity for Türkiye”
Speaking at the programme, Minister of Treasury and Finance of the Republic of Türkiye Mehmet Şimşek made comprehensive assessments regarding the global economy, Türkiye's macro balances and the economic programme being implemented.
In his analyses of the global system, Minister Şimşek stated that the economic order established after the Second World War is going through a serious process of transformation, and made the following assessment:
“We are going through a period in which protectionism has become the new normal. Today's global picture recalls the 1930s in many respects. In this process, regional integration and strong economic cooperation are of vital importance for Türkiye.”
Sharing also his expectations regarding the inflation outlook, Şimşek emphasized his confidence in the disinflation process and said:
“If we do not experience again some of the shocks we went through last year, I sincerely believe that inflation can fall below 20 percent by the end of 2026. Domestic and external conditions support disinflation.”
Stating that supports for exporters and manufacturing SMEs will continue, Şimşek also noted that new programmes aimed at reducing financing costs are being worked on.
The programme concluded with a comprehensive consultation meeting held in the session closed to the press between MÜSİAD Branch Presidents and Members of the Board of Directors and the Minister of Treasury and Finance of the Republic of Türkiye, Mr. Mehmet Şimşek. The closed session addressed the expectations of the real sector coming from the field, access to finance, policy steps that will protect production and employment, and the road map for 2026
