Mr. Minister, Mr. Governor, dear ASKON President, esteemed representatives of Akit Media Group, esteemed representatives of the real sector and finance world, dear guests, I greet you with respect on behalf of myself and Ziraat Finance Group. I am delighted to host you in this auditorium at Istanbul Finance Center Ziraat Towers. Today I am very pleased to be together with you, our valuable stakeholders who shape the economic future of our country and economy, and to share our bank's vision. We are experiencing a period of tough tests for the global economy, with trade routes being redrawn and geopolitical risks putting pressure on supply chains and all economies. At such a critical time, the strength of countries is determined not only by their capital but also by their production capabilities, export potential, and strong financial infrastructure. Turkey is writing a strong story in this period. Turkey, which produces, invests, creates employment, and positions itself as a safe harbor globally with the vision of entrepreneurs, is increasing its share in global trade every day. Behind this success are our entrepreneurs, industrialists, producers, and exporters. The macroeconomic developments we have achieved recently demonstrate the high adaptation capability of our real sector despite all global challenges. Thanks to strategic moves led by the Ministry of Trade, our export performance and foreign trade volume have gained strong momentum. As of May, annualized exports reached $275 billion and foreign trade volume reached $646 billion. This positive trend in foreign trade balance represents not only a quantitative increase but also a qualitative transformation. The increase in high-tech products' share in exports and the successful implementation of market diversification strategies directly support our macroeconomic stability. The easing of pressure on the current account deficit and the balanced growth path of economic activities allow us in the financial sector to look to the future with more confidence. In this march of the real sector, the banking sector and especially Ziraat Bank do not evaluate financial resources as mere balance sheet items. We consider every penny as a building block for our country's development. With high asset quality, strong liquidity, and a mission to create added value for the national economy, we play a pioneering role in trade finance. In line with the medium-term economic program implemented decisively by our economic management, we support proactive steps to establish price stability, make the current account deficit sustainable, and reduce the budget deficit in full coordination. While ensuring full compliance with macroprudential measures and regulations, we make maximum efforts to protect our productive sectors and customers and meet their financing needs. With your permission, Mr. Minister, I would like to give some information about Ziraat Bank. As of today, Ziraat Bank continues its strong and uninterrupted support to all sectors critical for our country, especially agriculture, with an asset size exceeding 9 trillion TL and a credit volume approaching 7 trillion TL. Our leading position in asset size, credits, deposits, equity, agricultural financing, foreign trade transactions, and export financing is the clearest indicator of the support we provide to the real sector. Today, our bank is one of the strongest financial institutions not only in Turkey but in the region. With approximately $30 billion in resources obtained from abroad, we rank among the banks with the highest access to international financial markets. With our network of 1,800 correspondent banks in 145 countries and subsidiaries and branches in 21 countries, we stand by Turkish businesspeople and exporters at every point in the world. Ziraat Bank holds over 20% of the foreign trade market share across 12 major trade corridors, from the Middle Corridor to the China-Europe sea route and the northern corridor. Dear guests, Ziraat Bank directs its resources to investment, employment, production, and exports. Today, we have allocated 83% of our credit portfolio to financing the real sector. The total amount of our export credits has reached 491 billion TL, and we maintain our sector leadership in this area by a wide margin. The share of manufacturing industry and exports in our credit portfolio has reached 40%. These ratios are not just a financial choice but a clear indicator of our support for Turkey's development vision. Especially to strengthen SMEs in global competition, we facilitate exporters' access to financing through collaborations with Eximbank and IGE. Because we know that exports that do not spread to the base cannot produce sustainable growth. Dear guests, we know that success in future trade will no longer be achieved by price and quality alone; these two factors alone will not be sufficient. Green transformation, digitalization, and technology investments are becoming the new determinants of global competition. As Ziraat Bank, we support green transformation with sustainable financing solutions, encourage energy efficiency investments, and strengthen our exporters' compliance with new-generation global standards. At the same time, we make our customers' transactions faster, safer, and more efficient with AI-supported analysis systems, digital foreign trade solutions, and advanced financial technologies. Our goal is not just to provide financing but to give Turkish exporters an advantage in global competition. Ziraat Bank, with the motto of being more than a bank yesterday, today, and tomorrow, will continue to be the greatest power alongside our producers and exporters. On the path to achieving our country's national vision goals, we resolutely fulfill our responsibility at every step our real sector takes, and we will continue to do so. I conclude my remarks by thanking the Minister and the valuable managers of Akit Media Group for their efforts in organizing this valuable summit. May this summit be auspicious for our country, our nation, and our internal world.
