By Kerem Alp Eren Kaya
ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkish-based investment management firm Globalturk Capital's Executive Briefing on Private Capital in Türkiye and Environs was held in Istanbul with the support of the Turkish Investment and Finance Office.
The 7th annual conference, held last week with the strategic partnership of the Global Private Capital Association (GPCA) and the support of the Investment and Finance Office, brought together more than 55 international investors and over 300 high-level participants.
The conference featured speakers including managers of international private equity, private credit, and venture capital funds; representatives of international development and investment finance institutions; technology investors; and corporate leaders.
Held under the theme "Türkiye and Its Environs in Changing Global Investment Dynamics: Capital, Technology and Sustainability," the conference discussed macroeconomic policies, transformations in private equity and debt markets, the rise of technology investments, and sustainable growth strategies.
Participants evaluated areas of opportunity attracting the interest of international funds as part of the country's foreign direct investment strategy and discussed the direction of industry, technology, energy, health, agriculture, and digitalization-focused investments over the next five years.
The transformation created by private equity, private credit, and venture capital funds in sectors such as fintech, gaming, health technologies, artificial intelligence, and green energy was also one of the prominent topics at the event.
Various panels focused on regional collaborations, investment strategies, and fund-raising processes.
- Funds managing $3.5 trillion in assets gathered
Globalturk Capital founding and managing partner Baris Oney, also a member of the GPCA Central and Eastern Europe Leadership Council and representative for Türkiye, told Anadolu that the event was a special platform as it brought together senior executives from funds managing a total of $3.5 trillion in assets worldwide.
Oney said the event featured 10 panels covering investment focuses, investment opportunities, and the investment environment in Türkiye.
He said: "These investors are long-term investors. They’re not like stock market investors.
"When they come, they come in the category of international direct investment. They invest in companies. They stay with those companies for at least five to 10 years."
Stressing that there are important investment areas in Türkiye and around the world related to both AI and non-AI sectors, he said: “For example, the digitization of industry, the ability to produce value-added products, more efficient operation, renewable energy, health investments, food safety, cyber security, and digital security are very important issues.”
Oney said as there are no longer any “safe havens” in the world, many investors have started to invest outside their own countries, “because they want to diversify their assets. So when we look at it this way, America has become quite chaotic. Every morning, they wake up to President (Donald) Trump's executive actions.”
"South America is in trouble, and there are serious frictions between it and the US. There are frictions between the US and China."
Capital that used to go to China has been reluctant to go there for two or three years now, and is going to India or Southeast Asia instead, he stressed, adding: "Looking at our region, there is macroeconomic and political instability in Europe as well. Türkiye, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Middle East have become relatively more stable islands."
Türkiye has an important opportunity for the next 10 years and investors are aware of this and are acting with a view to at least a 10-year period, he said, adding: “These are patient investors, so there’s no reason for them not to come to Türkiye. Türkiye has started to remain like a safe haven.”
He stressed that recent developments in the Middle East easing tensions in the region will have an additional impact on investments in Türkiye and its surroundings.
Mentioning how conflicts and wars in the region have reached a ceasefire, he said: "Hopefully, it is moving towards lasting peace. To our north, there’s a problem between Russia and Ukraine. I am sure it will also stabilize in the near future. As they stabilize, Türkiye will have a huge advantage in these matters.
"First of all, it will already have achieved a more stable position. People are reluctant to come, they are hesitant, rightly so, thinking that there’s a war in the region. Actually, there isn't, but they think there is."
- Türkiye attracts investment from Asia, America, Europe
Oney said at the conference that there are many large investors who haven’t yet invested in the country but have included it in their investment programs.
Emphasizing that these investors are present in Türkiye because they believe the country will come to the fore with future developments, he said serious investments are starting to flow into Türkiye from Asia, America, and Europe, and that this will improve.
He stated that by revising regulations or making improvements to clear the way for capital, the capital coming to Türkiye could rise by at least 10- or 20-fold.