HIB/Avdagiç: Numbers Indicate We Will Achieve Our $120 Billion Target for 2024

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HIB/Avdagiç: Numbers Indicate We Will Achieve Our $120 Billion Target for 2024

The "Champions of Service Exports" were awarded for the sixth time in a ceremony hosted by Şekib Avdagiç, the President of the Services Exporters Association (HİB). The event was attended by Minister of Trade Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat, Turkey Exporters Assembly (TİM) President Mustafa Gültepe, and HİB members.

In the opening speech at the award ceremony held at the TİM Foreign Trade Complex Ömer Halisdemir Conference Hall, Minister Bolat stated, “Last year, we recorded a surplus of 56.7 billion dollars in services exports, and in the first nine months of this year, we are also in a surplus of 47.7 billion dollars. Therefore, I want to state clearly, the support is from us, and the success is from you. Together, we will achieve more.” He noted that they anticipate another surplus in current transactions in October, indicating that the country would have achieved the success of recording a surplus for five consecutive months. Minister Bolat further added, "For 2025, we have set a target of 121 billion dollars for services exports in the Medium-Term Program. Unless abnormal situations arise internationally, we will reach these figures together. Our goal is to increase our share in global services exports from the current 1.35% to 2% by 2028."

Beginning his remarks by recalling that service exporters closed the year 2023 with an export figure of 106 billion dollars, HİB President Şekib Avdagiç stated, “At the beginning of the year, our government set a target of 110 billion dollars for service exports. As service exporters, we raised this target to 120 billion dollars in the early months of the year. Minister, I would like to bring you good news from here; the export figures reflected in the statistics so far indicate that we will reach our target of 120 billion dollars for 2024 with your support and the efforts of all our service exporters."

Avdagiç pointed out that the majority of the sectors in service exports are labor-intensive, stating, “Service exporters have a positive impact not only on employment but also on the current account deficit. While almost all exporting sectors are in a current account deficit, service exporters continue to contribute to a net current surplus. In 2023, service exporters recorded a current surplus of 56.7 billion dollars, meaning the sector exported more than double what it imported. Similar figures can be seen in the first nine months of the year as well. The export amount of 86.3 billion dollars corresponds to imports of only 38.6 billion dollars. Thus, exports have already surpassed imports by more than double."

Avdagiç mentioned that, as every year, they gathered to award the top 54 firms that contributed most to exports from 18 sectors within HİB. He noted, "This year, we are organizing our sixth award ceremony. We know that each of our members is breaking new records in their field. We started our journey in 2018 with 644 members, and our member count has now surpassed 5,600 in the first ten months of this year. Therefore, I would like to thank all firms, not just those receiving awards today, for their contributions to service exports."

While addressing the current state of the global economy, Avdagiç remarked, "The development that will most affect the global economy is undoubtedly the re-election of Donald Trump as President of the United States. While the global economy is trying to overcome the impacts of the pandemic, there have been two significant developments. First, the Ukraine-Russia War broke out just north of us. While this war persists, there have also been ongoing aggressive actions initiated by Israel against Gaza for a year, which seem to be expanding throughout the region. Let me emphasize that, as the Turkish business community, we have always stood with the oppressed. Now, we stand with the oppressed in Gaza and Palestine. We desire a world where peace prevails, not wars." Avdagiç concluded his remarks, quoting Yunus Emre, “No matter how high the mountain, the way will cross over it,” stating, "Service exporters have the strength to overcome every challenge and discover new paths that surpass them. The greatest proof of this is today’s award ceremony; the unwavering determination and commitment of our service exporters, who break record after record every year."

Gültepe: HİB's success is just the beginning

Mustafa Gültepe, President of the Turkey Exporters Assembly, highlighted that Turkey’s service exports increased by 14% to reach 106 billion dollars in 2023. In his speech, he noted, "We raised our share of the global service trade, which amounts to 7.8 trillion dollars, to 1.35%. We are ranked 21st among the countries with the highest service exports. For the January-September period of this year, our total service exports reached 86.4 billion dollars, reflecting a 7% increase. By the end of the year, we hope to exceed 110 billion dollars." Gültepe remarked that this success is just the beginning, stating, "I know that our potential in service exports is much higher. We aim for 200 billion dollars in service exports by 2028, with targets of 100 billion dollars in tourism, 40 billion dollars in logistics, 32 billion dollars in passenger transport, and 7 billion dollars in software. We anticipate a total of 22.5 billion dollars in exports from other subsectors. These figures are extremely important and will contribute directly to our country's development process. Achieving 200 billion dollars in service exports will significantly impact our overall foreign trade balance. God willing, when we reach the target of 200 billion dollars, we will have also raised our share of global service exports to 2%."

Award-winning firms

Following the opening remarks, awards were presented to firms that ranked first, second, and third across 18 categories at the Service Exports Champions Award Ceremony. The awards, totaling 54, were given based on the foreign exchange amounts that service exporters have contributed to the country. The firms recognized in their respective categories are as follows:

MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SECTOR

  • TURKISH AIRLINES TECHNICAL INC.
  • MRO TECHNICAL SERVICE INDUSTRY AND TRADE INC.
  • TERSAN SHIPYARD TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY AND TRADE INC.

CONSULTING, ADVISORY, AND SUPPORT SERVICES SECTOR

  • SUPPORT PATENT INC.
  • REACH GLOBAL SERVICES CONSULTING INC.
  • AYŞENUR AND TURAN FOOD CONTROL LABORATORY INC.

EDUCATION SERVICES SECTOR

  • BAHÇEŞEHİR UNIVERSITY
  • ISTANBUL AYDIN UNIVERSITY
  • ISTANBUL MEDIPOL UNIVERSITY

FILM AND ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES SECTOR

  • TURKUVAZ ACTIVE TELEVISION PRODUCTION INC.
  • TARA PRODUCTION INTERNATIONAL MARKETING INC.
  • MED PRODUCTION TELEVISION AND FILMING INC.

FINANCIAL, INSURANCE, AND OTHER FINANCIAL SECTOR

  • ANADOLU ANONİM TÜRK SİGORTA ŞİRKETİ
  • Company Confidential
  • CORAL HOLDING INC.

GASTRONOMY SERVICES SECTOR

  • BTA AIRPORT FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICES INC.
  • BIG CHEFS FOOD TOURISM TEXTILE CONSULTANCY INC.
  • HUQQA FOOD ENTERPRISES INC.

CONSTRUCTION, CONTRACTING, AND PROCURING SERVICES SECTOR

  • YAPI MERKEZİ CONSTRUCTION AND INDUSTRY INC.
  • GAP CONSTRUCTION INVESTMENT AND FOREIGN TRADE INC.
  • TAV TEPE AKFEN INVESTMENT CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION INC.

PORT OPERATIONS SERVICES SECTOR

  • İGA AIRPORT OPERATIONS INC.
  • Company Confidential
  • FRAPORT TAV ANTALYA TERMINAL OPERATIONS INC.

ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING, SCIENTIFIC AND OTHER TECHNICAL SERVICES SECTOR

  • FORD AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY INC.
  • DENZAY ENGINEERING ENERGY CONSTRUCTION IT INDUSTRY TRADE LTD. CO.
  • TUMAS TURK ENGINEERING CONSULTING AND CONTRACTING INC.

HEALTH SERVICES SECTOR

  • ACIBADEM HEALTH SERVICES AND TRADE INC.
  • MLP HEALTH SERVICES INC.
  • ISTANBUL MEMORIAL HEALTH INVESTMENTS INC.

TRAVEL AGENCY SERVICES SECTOR

  • ODEON TOURISM MANAGEMENT INC.
  • ANEXSERVICES TOURISM ORGANIZATION TRANSPORTATION TRADE INC.
  • Company Confidential

TECHNICAL CONSULTANCY AND SUPERVISION SERVICES SECTOR

  • N.K.Y. ARCHITECTURE ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION AND TRADE LTD. CO.
  • YÜKSEL PROJECT INC.
  • PROYAPI ENGINEERING AND CONSULTING INC.

TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES SECTOR

  • CONCENTRIX
  • MAJOREL TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES INC.
  • TURKSAT SATELLITE COMMUNICATION CABLE TV AND OPERATION INC.

TOURISM AND ACCOMMODATION SERVICES SECTOR

  • FINE HOTEL TOURISM MANAGEMENT INC.
  • GALERİ KRİSTAL TOURISM CONSTRUCTION MARKETING AND TRADE INC.
  • ETS GROUP

SOFTWARE AND IT SERVICES SECTOR

  • VLMEDIA SOFTWARE PROMOTION IT CONSULTING DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN TRADE INC.
  • ETİYA INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES SOFTWARE INDUSTRY AND TRADE INC.
  • ORION INNOVATION INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES INC.

GROUND SERVICES SECTOR

  • ÇELEBİ AVIATION HOLDING INC.
  • AIRPORT GROUND SERVICES INC.
  • TGS (IS:TGSAS) GROUND SERVICES INC.

PASSENGER TRANSPORT SERVICES SECTOR

  • TURKISH AIRLINES INC.
  • PEGASUS AIR CARGO INC.
  • GÜNEŞ EKSPRES AVIATION INC.

FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS SERVICES SECTOR

  • MARS LOGISTICS INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION STORAGE DISTRIBUTION AND TRADE INC.
  • EKOL TRANSPORTATION INC.
  • MSC SHIPPING AGENCY INC.