US, UK, Japan to fund Turkish contractors in rebuilding Ukraine, says trade minister

Turkish firms will assume a critical role in Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction, undertaking numerous projects with financial support from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan, Türkiye’s Trade Minister Omer Bolat stated on Saturday.

“There are numerous projects that Turkish contractors will undertake with the financial backing of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan,” Bolat said during the opening session of the Palandoken Economic Forum, held at a hotel in Erzurum, which was declared the “2025 Tourism Capital” by the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and moderated by Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarciklioglu.

The panel, moderated by Rifat Hisarciklioglu, president of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) and the World Chambers Federation (WCF), also featured Türkiye’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.

Speaking about his recent visit to Japan, he described ongoing efforts to deepen Türkiye’s trade and investment ties with the country and to explore opportunities in third markets.

Bolat also touched on Türkiye’s approach toward Syria, highlighting the country’s commitment to stability in the region.

He said that Syrian authorities have expressed gratitude for Türkiye’s assistance and are counting on continued cooperation at both the governmental and private sector levels.

‘No winners in trade wars, no prosperity without trade’

Rifat Hisarciklioglu, president of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) and the World Chambers Federation (WCF), warned against rising protectionist pressures in global trade, pointing in particular to U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies.

“There are no winners in trade wars,” Hisarciklioglu said, cautioning that retaliatory measures, increased costs, disrupted supply chains, delayed investment plans, and declining prosperity are inevitable outcomes—lessons witnessed during the Great Depression of 1929.

He added that the rise of political extremism globally was another consequence of such economic turmoil at the time.

Highlighting the vital link between trade and economic well-being, Hisarciklioglu stressed that “without trade, there is no investment; without investment, there is no employment; and without employment, there is no prosperity.”

He urged policymakers around the world to facilitate trade and investment, emphasizing that the business community demands no favors beyond open and predictable economic policies.

Hisarciklioglu also praised Trade Minister Omer Bolat’s contributions, noting that under his leadership, Türkiye’s share in global goods and services exports has, for the first time, surpassed the 1% threshold.

“Our next target is even greater—to raise this figure to 2%,” he said.

‘Tourism is Türkiye’s petroleum’

Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy underlined the growing importance of tourism to Türkiye’s economy, describing it as the country’s “petroleum.” He said Türkiye ranks fourth globally in tourism and aims to enter the top three.

Ersoy explained that travel and tourism contribute approximately 12% to Türkiye’s gross national product and that this figure continues to rise.

He stressed that tourism not only generates millions of jobs but also plays a vital role in improving Türkiye’s current account balance and supporting stable economic growth.

Referring to Türkiye’s rich cultural and natural heritage, Ersoy remarked that the country’s archaeological assets, dating back 12,000 years, are increasingly promoted to international audiences.

He noted that excavation programs have so far uncovered only about 10% of Türkiye’s archaeological wealth and expressed a hope that this figure would double in the next four years, enriching both cultural heritage and tourism.

Call for human-centered education amid technological change

National Education Minister Yusuf Tekin addressed ongoing efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into education, stressing the need to preserve human values alongside technological advancement.

Tekin warned that global shifts in economics, politics, and statecraft have often neglected fundamental human values, contributing to widespread human rights violations and conflicts such as the ongoing crisis in Palestine.

He argued that embedding ethical and humanitarian principles into education systems is crucial to ensuring that technological progress aligns with human dignity and democratic ideals.

Speaking at international platforms, including the United Nations and UNESCO, Tekin said he consistently advocates for a stronger focus on human-centered education, emphasizing that combining economic development with a commitment to fundamental rights and freedoms is essential for achieving true progress.