Istanbul Digital Trade Summit: $6.1 Trillion Global Markets Convene in Turkey

Global e-commerce giants, commanding a staggering $6.1 trillion in total trade volume, are poised to converge in Istanbul to make history. Coordinated by the Ministry of Trade, the Istanbul Global E-Export Summit (IGEXX 2026), taking place at the Haliç Congress Center from September 3-5, asserts that Turkey is set to become the new center of the digital economic transformation.

Strategic Move to Become the Hub of Digital Trade

Organized in partnership with the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) and the Association of E-Commerce Operators (ETİD), the event aims to serve as a catalyst for Turkish exporters accessing new markets. The economic weight of the summit is underscored by the revenues of its participants.

■Participation of over 40 global and regional platforms.

■Presence of giants including Amazon, Alibaba, Walmart Marketplace, eBay, TikTok Shop, and SHEIN.

■The total trade volume of participating platforms reaching $6.1 trillion.

■Mapping alternative routes to break the current 40% EU dependency of Turkish exports.

Expansion into Asian Markets and the AI Revolution

Mehmet Ali Kılıçkaya, General Director of Exports at the Ministry of Trade, emphasizes that export strategy now relies not just on geographical proximity but on digital access power. In particular, Asian markets are being coded as a "gold mine" for Turkish firms.

■Entry strategies for high-potential markets like China, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

■Support for certain costs in new markets by the Ministry.

■Approximately 13% of e-exporting firms conducting exports via Amazon.

■E-export volume reaching $5.045 billion and the number of firms exceeding 11,000 as of 2025.

Hasan Önal, Head of Department at the Ministry of Trade, speaks of a structural change beyond the data. It is stated that "agentic commerce" models, supported by artificial intelligence, will reshape competition, with a focus on optimizing the B2B2C business model and fulfillment processes.

Data paints a clear picture: Turkey's export route is evolving from West to East, and from traditional trade to digital ecosystems. To secure a slice of the $6.1 trillion pie, minimizing logistics and digital marketing costs is critical. However, the real tipping point lies in accelerating access to these marketplaces through AI integration. The e-export volume surpassing the $5 billion mark is the greatest proof that this strategy is working.