Artificial intelligence infrastructure took center stage as crowds filled the Istanbul Expo Center halls
The inaugural GITEX Ai Türkiye 2026 kicked off at Istanbul Expo Center, assembling tech executives, investors, policy shapers, and startups from across Türkiye and the globe
GITEX Ai Türkiye highlighted AI, cloud and data centers, cybersecurity, fintech, intelligent infrastructure, and additional sectors
İSTANBUL, TURKEY, September 9, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Technology executives, investors, entrepreneurs, and government officials gather as the first day shines a spotlight on the innovation and international collaboration driving Türkiye’s digital economy
Over 350 exhibitors, 100 speakers, and 150 investors come together as Türkiye accelerates its 2026-2030 AI Action Plan for national tech sovereignty and sustainable digital transformation
Türkiye’s AI aspirations took center stage on the global scene today as the first-ever GITEX Ai Türkiye 2026 launched at Istanbul Expo Center, uniting technology leaders, investors, policymakers, and startups from Türkiye and across the world at a crucial juncture for the nation’s digital economy.
Scheduled through 10 September, GITEX Ai Türkiye assembles the full breadth of Türkiye’s tech ecosystem alongside the world’s most prominent technology firms, forging a powerful Eurasian digital corridor for international know-how, capital, and market access.
GITEX Ai Türkiye brings together over 350 corporate and startup exhibitors, 100 speakers, 150 investors with combined assets exceeding US$75 billion, and thousands of tech professionals from 70 nations. The country’s most globally oriented tech and AI gathering arrives as Türkiye speeds up its 2026-2030 AI Action Plan, targeting 1GW of data center capacity, mobilizing US$10 billion in private investment for AI infrastructure, and training five million AI-literate citizens over the next two years.
Covering AI, cloud and data centers, cybersecurity, fintech, and intelligent infrastructure, the event features global tech giants such as Google Cloud, HPE & NVIDIA, AWS, Huawei, Dell Technologies, SAP, and TrendAI, along with leading Turkish entities Trendyol, Andevos, Halkbank, and innovation accelerators Antalya Teknokent, İTÜ ARI Teknokent, and Giresun Teknopark, among others.
Hosted by the Investment and Finance Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye (Invest in Türkiye) in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Technology, and organized by inD, the global organizer of GITEX, the event occurs as Türkiye continues advancing its technology capabilities, cultivating talent, and reinforcing global ties.
Gokhan Yucel, Head of Communications Department, Investment and Finance Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, delivered an opening address today: “Türkiye’s AI ecosystem already includes roughly 1,500 active AI companies. From Türkiye, businesses can reach 1.3 billion people and markets with a combined GDP of US$35 trillion within a four-hour flight radius.
“We describe Türkiye not simply as a bridge, but as the nexus of the world. Our vision is clear: we want Türkiye to be where global technology companies invest with assurance, investors uncover the next wave of high-growth ventures, and entrepreneurs build locally and scale globally. GITEX Ai Türkiye brings that vision to life, connecting technology, talent, and capital with global opportunity.”
Bilal Alrais, Vice President of Digital Growth at inD, stated in his opening remarks: “For GITEX Ai Türkiye, our focus goes beyond gathering the ecosystem. We are here to assist Turkish companies in expanding internationally, draw investment into the country, and create partnerships that translate into concrete business opportunities.”
Türkiye scales the infrastructure powering its AI economy
AI infrastructure emerged as a key theme as thousands of attendees filled the halls at Istanbul Expo Center. Global tech firms showcased how expanding compute, cloud, and data center capabilities are fueling enterprise transformation and increasingly sophisticated AI deployment.
“Digital transformation is no longer optional, but a fundamental requirement for business continuity and competitiveness,” said İlker Rodoplu, Country Manager for Dell Technologies. “We deliver hybrid and multi-cloud architectures that seamlessly integrate cloud, edge computing, and on-premises solutions while modernizing our customers’ existing infrastructure.”
He added: “Our objective is to simplify technology, reduce operational complexity, and enable businesses to focus on what truly matters: growth through innovation. In this context, we are excited to share practical examples of how artificial intelligence is reshaping the business landscape with our clients at the event.”
Huawei, meanwhile, is emphasizing the scale of its existing AI and cloud infrastructure footprint in Türkiye and its plans to support continued expansion in Türkiye’s AI economy. The company, which has operated local cloud infrastructure in Türkiye since 2023, claims to be the first hyperscaler with local infrastructure running on a three-availability-zone architecture, complemented by a disaster recovery center opened in Ankara in 2024.
“For 20 years, enterprise IT was mostly about storing things and serving them reliably,” said Safder Baydur, Huawei Cloud Türkiye Sales Director. “Now our customers are training and running models, and that is a fundamentally different kind of load. You can see it in the global numbers. Data center capacity was around 60 gigawatts in 2020, 97 by 2024, and projections put it at 226 by 2030.”
World’s largest innovation and entrepreneurship hub signs GITEX MoU
The opening day also saw GITEX and Terminal Istanbul sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will give Terminal Istanbul a presence across GITEX events worldwide, creating fresh opportunities to showcase Türkiye’s startup ecosystem to international investors, technology firms, and markets.
The partnership arrives as Terminal Istanbul transforms the former Atatürk Airport terminals into what is planned to become the world’s largest innovation and entrepreneurship hub. The redevelopment will convert roughly 500,000 sqm of terminal space into offices, incubation centers, co-working areas, and facilities for startups, investors, and accelerator programs.
“As Terminal İstanbul, we view international collaboration as a key component of building a stronger and more globally connected entrepreneurship ecosystem in Türkiye,” said Erkam Tuzgen, CEO of Terminal Istanbul.
“Our MoU partnership with GITEX is another step in extending our reach into one of the world’s leading technology and innovation platforms, while strengthening Türkiye’s position within the global entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem.”
Sovereign capital looks to turn innovation into global scale
Beyond infrastructure, day one highlighted another critical ingredient in building a globally competitive technology economy: capital. As Turkish technology companies mature and target international markets, Türkiye Wealth Fund (TWF) is positioning sovereign capital as a catalyst for growth.
“Sovereign capital can play a catalytic role by investing with a long-term perspective and helping attract additional institutional and international capital into the ecosystem,” said Bilal Bedir, Executive Director of Investments at Türkiye Wealth Fund and Member of the Board of Directors of the Türkiye Technology Fund. “In technology, this means supporting strong fund managers, facilitating access to global networks, and creating pathways for promising companies to access growth capital.”
AI and open banking accelerate Türkiye’s fintech transformation
Türkiye’s evolving financial sector was another major focus at GITEX Ai Türkiye, where banks, fintech firms, and technology providers are exploring how AI, open banking, and intelligent automation can drive the next generation of financial services.
“Türkiye holds immense potential, combining rapid technology adoption with a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Ömer Emeç, PhD., Deputy General Manager of Strategy, Transformation, and Ecosystem at Halkbank, one of Türkiye’s leading state-owned banks. “At Halkbank, we are investing strategically in AI, digital banking, and next-generation technologies. GITEX Ai Türkiye strengthens this momentum by connecting global vision with local potential and creating opportunities for groundbreaking ideas.”
Additionally, Turkish technology company Andevos is showcasing its Payment Automation solutions, helping organizations manage self-service channels and simplify financial operations. The company is also meeting with financial institutions and partners to discuss its Paynova open banking platform and AI Assistant initiatives.
“Türkiye’s banking expertise and technology talent provide a strong foundation for the next generation of financial services,” said Orhan Akbulut, General Manager of Andevos. “Over the next five years, we see significant opportunities in open banking, embedded finance, and AI-powered automation. For us, the real value lies in turning these technologies into practical improvements: shorter waiting times, fewer manual steps, and more reliable operations.”
GITEX Ai Türkiye continues tomorrow, 10 September, with a Ministerial address in the morning followed by discussions and showcases spanning AI, data centers and intelligent infrastructure, fintech, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, and enterprise digital transformation.
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