Speaking at an event organized by the Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (MÜSİAD), Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek told business representatives not to expect everything from the state, stressing that there are limits to what the state can do.
Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek spoke at MÜSİAD’s event titled “2025 Review and 2026 Expectations.” Addressing business leaders, Şimşek said companies should not rely entirely on government support.
Stressing the need to move beyond a volume driven approach, Şimşek said:
“Rather than simply producing and selling more of the same goods, we should focus on producing higher quality, higher value added products with higher profit margins.” He added that achieving this goal requires joint efforts and closer cooperation.
Şimşek also noted that despite allocating nearly $90 billion in resources for earthquake recovery during one of the most challenging periods, budget discipline has improved.
Emphasizing that several major concerns voiced by the business community two to three years ago have been addressed, Şimşek said:
“We will support you, but do not expect everything from the state.”
Continuing his remarks, Şimşek stated:
“Dear friends, let us be realistic. There are limits to what the state can do. That is why we are asking you to create higher added value. Why? Because we want you to make more profit and to remain competitive. We call for higher productivity, producing more with the same machines, in the same workplaces, within the same working hours. How you achieve this is your responsibility. Do not expect it from the public sector. Is innovation or branding easy? Has it been easy over the past 20 years? At some point, we will focus, and we will succeed.”
