Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called on Italian companies to consider Türkiye as a strategic gateway to Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, much like how Turkish companies regard Italy as an entry point to Europe.
The statement came during President Erdoğan’s official visit to Rome, where he participated in the Fourth Intergovernmental Türkiye-Italy Summit.
The visit was made upon the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and the Turkish leader received a warm welcome upon arrival.
Speaking at a business forum in the Italian capital, President Erdoğan highlighted Türkiye’s economic resilience, noting that despite regional conflicts, ongoing wars, and the devastating 2023 earthquakes, the Turkish economy continues to grow steadily.
He emphasized the shift in global economic trends toward protectionism and inward-focused policies, stating, “We are all witnessing the ongoing global struggle over customs tariffs. Türkiye is striving to manage this dynamic environment successfully and convert it into new opportunities.”
President Erdoğan also underlined the importance of joint efforts in the defense and security sectors, adding, “We believe that increasing collaborative initiatives to ensure our contribution to the expansion of Europe’s security and defense capacity aligns with our mutual interests.”
