Istanbul’s E‑Commerce Revolution: Global Stakeholders Meet at IGEXX 2026

The upcoming IGEXX 2026 summit will reshape Turkey’s digital export map, taking place from 3‑5 September at the Haliç Conference Center.

Convergence of Virtual Frontiers

The global e‑commerce market, exceeding $30 billion annually, has seen Turkey’s share grow to $5 billion—a %12 increase in 2024. IGEXX brings together platforms like Amazon, eBay, Alibaba, Hepsiburada, and Trendyol to accelerate this growth.

Participants: Giants and Emerging Startups

■Representatives from Amazon Global Selling and Alibaba Cloud experts

■Oğuzhan Öner, CEO of Hepsiburada

■Over 200 SMEs in e‑commerce

■More than 50 investors and venture capital firms from 15 countries

Objectives: Making Turkey a Digital Export Leader

■Targeting a %30 increase in e‑export by 2025

■New “Global E‑Commerce Ecosystem” plan by the Turkish Digital Trade Association

■Collaboration with TCMB and Treasury to streamline customs processes

Economic Forecast: 10% Growth in 2026

■A World Bank report predicts Turkey’s e‑export to reach $7 billion in 2026

■60% of exporters plan to tap new markets through digitalization

■KOSGEB’s new program offers a %15 support rate for SMEs

Collaboration Opportunities: Investors and Policy Makers

■A package aimed at attracting $200 million in investment through VAT reductions and customs exemptions

■Launch of the “Digital Trade Innovation Center” by the Ministry of Trade

■New interest rate of %2.5 for the Export Development Fund

Market Response: Addressing Investor Concerns

■The Borsa İstanbul’s BIST E‑Commerce Index rose %3 after the summit announcement

■Short‑term commercial rates fell to %0.75 following the FED’s 0.25% hike

■Gold prices crossed $1,850 on 3 September, but a %4 decline is expected due to the e‑commerce sector’s growth

Dr. Aslıhan Demir: “IGEXX 2026 is a milestone for Turkey’s digital export strategy. This platform will boost the competitiveness of both local SMEs and large firms on the global stage. The new support packages from KOSGEB and VAT reductions will reduce costs for entrepreneurs, accelerating growth. These developments will positively contribute to Turkey’s external trade balance in the long run.”