Skip to main content

IRF Regional Conference, Istanbul: Turkish economy surges ahead

IRF Regional Congress to be held against backdrop of ramped up highway investment Turkey has long enjoyed a privileged geographic position at the crossroads of Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East. Buoyed by a vibrant economy (4.5% average GDP growth between 2002 and 2012), Turkey has embarked on an unprecedented effort to develop and modernise its transport infrastructure by 2023, marking the centennial of the foundation of the modern Turkish Republic. This plan, which seeks to propel Turkey as
April 13, 2015 Read time: 3 mins
The Gebze-Orhangazi-İzmir highway is one the biggest build operate transfer projects in the world
IRF Regional Congress to be held against backdrop of ramped up highway investment

Turkey has long enjoyed a privileged geographic position at the crossroads of Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East. Buoyed by a vibrant economy (4.5% average GDP growth between 2002 and 2012), Turkey has embarked on an unprecedented effort to develop and modernise its transport infrastructure by 2023, marking the centennial of the foundation of the modern Turkish Republic.

This plan, which seeks to propel Turkey as the world’s 10th largest economy, sets an ambitious highway construction agenda with 36,000km of dual carriageway roads and another 7,800km of BOT motorways serving the needs of an estimated 378 billion passenger km. In parallel, a nationwide integrated traffic management & traveller information system relying on 17 regional centres and 7,500km of fibre optic cable is scheduled for completion by 2023.

1st IRF Europe & Central Asia Regional Congress

September 15–18, 2015
Grand Wyndham Hotel, Istanbul


Limited exhibition & sponsorship opportunities:

• Raise your profile and strengthen your brand awareness
• Position your brand as a market leader in a dynamic region
• Differentiate your brand from competitors
• Maximise exposure of your brand to the media and visitors
• Generate leads with exclusive access to a targeted audience
• Present your innovations at Applied Knowledge sessions
• Make your mark at a milestone event
with influential professionals from all road industry disciplines
Early results, as measured by the 3019 World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index, are encouraging. In 2014, the country as a whole ranked 33rd for the quality of its overall infrastructure. Highway infrastructure investments as a percentage of GDP increased from 0.4% to 1.2% in 2012. This in turn has translated into significant new markets for road equipment: Turkey’s current needs are estimated at 2,000 km of safety barrier and 142,000m2 of vertical signing every year for its national highway network alone.

Some of Turkey’s anchor investment projects are also setting new standards such as the Mount Ovit Tunnel (14,700m) set to be the longest in Europe, or the 384km Gebze-Orhangazi-zmir highway, one the biggest build operate pransfer projects in the world (pictured), valued at US$6.3 billion. Once completed, travel time from Istanbul to zmir will be cut by half to just 4 hours.

With a strong economic outlook and a long-term vision for the sector, Turkey has become an extremely promising market for investors and suppliers. Efforts underway to modernise the country’s legislative framework for PPPs will further strengthen the attractiveness of Turkey’s active portfolio of investment operations.


Organised by 3918 IRF Washington.



For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • More studies for the Great Istanbul Tunnel under the Bosporus
    March 11, 2019
    Work has started on a geological condition field study for a proposed 6.5km three-deck road and rail tunnel under the Bosporus Strait in Istanbul, Turkey. Average daily road traffic through the Great Istanbul Tunnel is expected to be 120,000 vehicles and the rail line will move around 75,000 people daily. The tunnel, announced in 2015, will be nearly 19m in diameter and have two road levels and one rail level. It will run between Gayrettepe on the European side and Küçüksu on the Asian side. The ci
  • IRF announces winners of its 2018 Global Road Achievement Awards
    January 15, 2019
    IRF has announced the winners of the 2018 IRF Global Road Achievement Awards, a global competition to recognise outstanding achievement by road professionals. Instituted in 2000, the Awards have distinguished 150 programs, projects and products from around the world. This year, the IRF is honouring 11 projects from around the world, each leading the way in innovation across major road and highway disciplines. The selection was made by an international panel of senior road development specialists. "As an in
  • Zoomlion’s Asian ambition for dry-mix mortar
    January 6, 2017
    Zoomlion has ambitious plans to introduce dry-mix mortar production equipment to China and South East Asia following the firm’s recent acquisition of M-TEC – the German-based market leader. Speaking at Conexpo 2014, Patrick Hei, Zoomlion’s sales director of concrete machinery, said, “Dry-mix mortar in western countries is a common product for industry. However, in China and South East Asia, and some developing countries, this is a new product for industry. “Zoomlion believes that with its technology and s
  • Zoomlion’s Asian ambition for dry-mix mortar
    March 7, 2014
    Zoomlion has ambitious plans to introduce dry-mix mortar production equipment to China and South East Asia following the firm’s recent acquisition of M-TEC – the German-based market leader. Speaking at Conexpo 2014, Patrick Hei, Zoomlion’s sales director of concrete machinery, said, “Dry-mix mortar in western countries is a common product for industry. However, in China and South East Asia, and some developing countries, this is a new product for industry. “Zoomlion believes that with its technology and s