Turkey's Development Plan

We Must Initiate It Ourselves, We Must Shape It Ourselves

While choosing this title, I am well aware that hundreds of drafts, thousands of research projects, and countless feasibility reports related to what I am writing exist on the shelves of a government agency in Ankara. I am also conscious of the fact that the problem we face as a country stems not from enacting laws or making regulations, but from deficiencies in implementation and oversight. Does this situation prevent me from writing? Absolutely not! Because I believe that if we want to develop as a nation, a great responsibility primarily rests upon us as the private sector and citizens.

Issues such as our underground resources or reserves enriching us in the future, neighboring countries bringing capital to Turkey, or our tourism potential feel to me like an unexpected legacy from an unknown relative that will miraculously save our lives... While we are already dependent on foreign sources in many areas, why are we anchoring our dreams to external resources?

At the core of our economic fragility lies the current account deficit. In other words, it is actually necessary to balance imports and exports, and even meet our needs largely with domestic resources. To achieve this, we need an Anatolian industrial revolution. We must transition to a production economy. In this way, we can reduce youth unemployment, general unemployment, regional prosperity inequality, and foreign dependency. Is this possible? Of course! Are there examples? Britain, France, then Germany and Japan. South Korea in the 1980s and 1990s, China in the last 20–25 years. At the root of all lies the same factors: hard work, sacrifice, and solidarity...

Yes, at the beginning of my article, I stated that initiative lies with us before the state, and yes, state policies and guidance were behind the revolutionary and planned developments in these countries. However, whether the public and industrialists demanding this change and development pushed the state to this point, or whether the state forced the public and industry into this transformation is open to debate. In my opinion, a developing industry compels the state to embrace this change. Yes, there will be difficulties initially, but we see the same common point in all success stories: those who work with even greater determination instead of giving up in the face of scarcity and bureaucratic obstacles end up changing not only their own destiny, but also the destiny of others.

Moreover, we are not as disadvantaged as countries emerging from post-war ruins and poverty. We are a country with experience and equity in the construction and infrastructure sectors. We export 30 billion dollars annually in machinery manufacturing and plant construction. We possess experienced minds holding international-level management roles across all sectors, as well as well-educated younger generations. We are at the center of the world's major trade routes, and our access to raw materials is relatively easy. There are many new industrial sectors where we have not yet claimed a share of the pie. As the world changes rapidly, consumer loyalty to specific brands and countries is diminishing, and potentials for Turkey are growing in international markets. In other words, while closing the current account deficit by preferring domestic products in our internal market, we can also be more successful in exports.

A developed Turkey that has raised its prosperity level can naturally search for, find, and process its underground resources using its own technology, provide the energy it needs at more economical prices, become a regional power in renewable energy, and turn its touristic locations into routes for high-value-added tourists. These will follow naturally with high added value.

We must initiate our own transformation, and we must shape Turkey's development plan ourselves. By recognizing our potential and working with determination and unity, we must build our future. Every individual, every institution, and every sector needs to contribute to this goal. Only in this way can we reach the level of development and prosperity we expect.