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

  • E&E Event in Vienna: Transforming bitumen
    November 25, 2022
    The recent E&E Event in Vienna suggests that decarbonisation, digitalisation and diversification are fast changing the road paving sector, reports Kristina Smith.
  • CNH head on role in new business model and “three-speed recovery” of EMEA markets
    February 26, 2013
    Mario Gasparri, head of the CNH Construction Equipment business for its new Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) business region, outlines his and the Group’s immediate and long-term priorities “The creation of Fiat Industrial by bringing together the three businesses of CNH, Iveco and FPT Industrial has resulted in a business operating on a vast scale: Fiat Industrial is one of the top three global groups in the capital goods industry.
  • Safety issues fuel interest at PIARC’s tunnel conference in Lyon
    June 4, 2019
    Alternative fuel and automated vehicle issues occupied minds at PIARC’s first international road tunnel safety conference. David Arminas reports from Lyon More than ever, tunnel management must done in a wholistic fashion, said Andre Broto, president of PIARC, the World Road Association, based in Paris. With those sentiments, Broto kicked off PIARC’s first International Conference on Tunnel Operations and Safety. One of the first speakers, Sandrine Bernabei Chinzi, head of transport infrastructure at Fr
  • Global bitumen market value to grow
    July 13, 2018
    A new report suggests that the global bitumen market will hit US$110 billion/year by 2024. This new report has been compiled by the market research and strategy consulting firm, Global Market Insights, Inc. The report includes key industry contributions from Chevron Texaco, British Petroleum, Total SA, Indian Oil Corporation, China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation and Shell. It also includes JX Nippon Oil & Energy, NuStar Energy, Petroleos Mexicanos, Villas Austria GmbH, Bouygues SA, Marathon Oil, Exxon