GITEX Ai Türkiye to debut in Istanbul as Turkey courts AI capital

Türkiye is using the debut of GITEX Ai Türkiye to showcase a fast-growing tech market, a multibillion-dollar AI investment push and a startup ecosystem trying to scale globally. The event comes as the country seeks to position Istanbul as a cross-border hub for AI, cloud and advanced manufacturing.

Why it matters: - Türkiye is trying to turn a $38 billion ICT market into a broader Eurasian AI and digital economy. - The country’s tech market is projected to reach $58 billion by 2031, putting more global attention on Istanbul as a regional innovation hub. - The event is meant to connect investors, policymakers, startups and global tech companies around capital, infrastructure and talent.

What happened: - The inaugural GITEX Ai Türkiye 2026 will take place Sept. 9-10 at Istanbul Expo Centre. - The event is hosted by the Investment and Finance Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, also known as Invest in Türkiye, in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Technology. - GITEX, the world’s largest tech, AI and investment event network, is powering the debut through inD, its joint venture with Dubai World Trade Centre and Informa. - Organizers say the two-day event will bring together 300-plus enterprise and startup exhibitors, investors, government policymakers, speakers and thousands of tech executives.

The details: - Türkiye allocated $3 billion this year to data center and AI investments. - The country is also seeking $10 billion in private-sector funding to support AI innovation and build 1 gigawatt of data center capacity by 2030. - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced plans in June 2026 to train 10,000 advanced AI specialists and 100,000 AI application professionals under the country’s AI Action Plan. - Türkiye’s startup ecosystem raised $559 million in the first quarter of 2026, more than seven times the same period a year earlier. - The country now has 114 technoparks hosting more than 13,000 startups, plus more than 1,700 R&D and design centers. - GITEX Ai Türkiye will focus on AI, 5G and telecom, cloud and connectivity, cybersecurity and dual-use tech, data centers, e-commerce, fintech, gaming, green tech, health tech, mobility, quantum computing and smart manufacturing. - Confirmed participants span five continents, including companies and delegations from Colombia, Peru, Nigeria, Tunisia, the UAE, Jordan, Poland, Portugal, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan and Singapore. - Google Cloud, HPE, NVIDIA, ASUS, Dell Technologies, Huawei, SAP and TrendAI are among the global companies listed as participants. - Regional players include Trendyol, valued at $16.5 billion, and Andevos, described as Türkiye’s leading AI and fintech platform. - Halkbank is joining as platinum sponsor. - Google Cloud is the headline cloud partner after announcing in 2025 a new Google Cloud region in Türkiye as part of a 10-year, $2 billion investment with Turkcell. - Turkcell serves 46 million subscribers and is described as Türkiye’s 5G pioneer. - HPE and NVIDIA are joining as gold sponsors. - fixcloud, Odoo, Sangfor, Redington and Forcepoint are also participating across cloud, ERP, cybersecurity, distribution and network security. - More than 100 investors from 20 nations, managing $50 billion in assets, are expected to meet technopark-incubated startups during the event. - Participating innovation hubs include Tech Talk Partners UMV, ITU ARI Teknokent, Teknopark Ankara, Antalya Teknokent, Giresun Teknopark, Medeniyet Teknopark and YTU Yildiz Teknopark.

Between the lines: - Türkiye is leaning on its location between Europe and Asia to market itself as a gateway for AI, cloud and manufacturing deals. - The combination of state funding, private capital targets and talent training suggests a push to build infrastructure and skilled labor at the same time. - The presence of major U.S. and global technology companies signals that Türkiye wants validation from established players as it pitches itself to investors. - Startup activity and technopark growth give the pitch more than a policy story; they also provide a local ecosystem for scaling companies.

What's next: - The Sept. 9-10 debut will test whether Türkiye can convert policy momentum into cross-border deals, partnerships and investment commitments. - The planned cloud region, AI infrastructure buildout and talent programs will shape how quickly the country can move from market potential to execution. - Organizers are positioning the event as a recurring platform for Eurasia’s AI and digital economy, not just a one-off conference.

The bottom line: - Türkiye is using GITEX Ai Türkiye to make a global sales pitch: the country wants to be the region’s AI corridor, not just a fast-growing market.