Türkiye to Host First-Ever E-Commerce Week in Istanbul to Advance Digital Trade Vision
Istanbul, The Gulf Observer: Türkiye will inaugurate its first-ever E-Commerce Week on Friday, launching a major nationwide initiative aimed at strengthening collaboration within the digital commerce sector, showcasing innovative solutions, and expanding the economic and social impact of online trade.
Organized by the Ministry of Trade with the support of the Electronic Commerce Operators Association (ETID) and the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), the two-day event will be held from 21–22 November at the Istanbul Lütfi Kırdar Congress Center.
The gathering will unite a broad range of stakeholders from across the e-commerce ecosystem, including marketplaces, SMEs, entrepreneurs, infrastructure providers, and logistics companies. Through panels, masterclasses, workshops, exhibitions, experience zones, S2B (startup-to-business) meetings, and networking sessions, the event aims to contribute to shaping Türkiye’s long-term digital commerce vision.
The program will highlight success stories from Türkiye and abroad, entrepreneurial milestones, AI-driven opportunities, and the transformative impact of digital technologies, with insights provided by industry experts, investors, academics, government representatives, and consumer groups.
A $90 Billion Digital Commerce Ecosystem
Speaking to Anadolu Agency on Tuesday, Cagatay Yasin Karaboga, head of the Trade Ministry’s Electronic Commerce Department, said rapid digitalization continues to redefine consumer and producer habits, enabling commerce independent of time and location.
Karaboga noted that e-commerce plays a crucial role in offering equal opportunities to producers and emphasized the scale of the sector’s growth.
“When we look at 2024 statistics, Türkiye’s digital commerce ecosystem has a $90 billion volume,” he said. “This $90 billion came from roughly 6 billion transactions, generated by 601,000 sellers.”
He added that E-Commerce Week will create a unique platform bringing together sellers, marketplaces, payment institutions, logistics providers, and other key industry participants. The event will also feature a shopping festival, offering interactive experiences for attendees.
For the first time, the program will include an awards ceremony honoring pioneering companies and innovators shaping Türkiye’s digital commerce landscape.
E-Commerce Week is expected to become a landmark event in the country’s digital economy, underscoring Türkiye’s ambition to strengthen its position in the global e-commerce arena.
