Türkiye Has Potential to Become Complementary Hub in Transatlantic Trade

(MENAFN) Türkiye has the potential to develop into a crucial complementary logistics hub for transatlantic trade as global supply chains continue to face disruption, according to industry representatives.

Bilgehan Engin, head of the Turkish Forwarding and Logistics Association, highlighted discussions at the Munich Security Conference earlier this month as evidence of the evolving economic relationship between Europe and the United States.

Recent years have seen global trade repeatedly disrupted by crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Additional challenges, including security risks in the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, have further strained traditional maritime shipping routes.

Engin explained that trade networks, once optimized primarily for cost, have become more complex and fragile. “Technology, tech-intensive inputs, critical components, and trade in services came to the fore in the trade route between the EU and the US,” he said, noting that this corridor handles around $10 trillion in trade and serves as a critical energy link.

He emphasized that Türkiye must redefine its role in this new era, especially given dramatic shifts in geopolitical conditions since NATO’s postwar formation. The country benefits from a modern and extensive port infrastructure, handling roughly 15 million 20-foot equivalent units of container traffic and 550 million tons of maritime cargo each year.

“Türkiye is a strategically located country, connecting Europe, its southern and eastern peripheries, the Middle East, and the Black Sea basins,” Engin said. He added that the nation aims to act as an integrated partner in line with its 2026 and 2030 economic visions, ensuring the continuity and sustainability of trade flows despite geopolitical fluctuations.

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