ASIA ANEW INITIATIVE

The Asia Anew Initiative seeks to enhance our relations with Asian countries in a more systematic and consistent way, grounded in a holistic and comprehensive strategy that encompasses sub-regional and country-specific approaches

Türkiye’s geopolitical and geoeconomic position as an emerging power in both Europe and Asia, along with the increasing global influence of Asian countries, presents significant opportunities for cooperation based on shared interests. In August 2019, Türkiye announced the “Asia Anew Initiative” to leverage this potential more effectively. Following Türkiye’s Africa Strategy and outreach to Latin America which have been announced earlier the Initiative serves as a natural outcome of our country’s multifaceted and multidimensional foreign policy. It complements our policies toward Western Europe and various other regions.

The Asia Anew Initiative seeks to enhance our relations with Asian countries in a more systematic and consistent way, grounded in a holistic and comprehensive strategy that encompasses sub-regional and country-specific approaches. The primary objective is to deepen and diversify strategic and economic relations with countries across Asia. Enhancing knowledge, consciousness, and awareness of Asia within Türkiye, as well as of Türkiye in Asian countries, is also a key priority of the Initiative. The Initiative is designed to be implemented through short-, medium-, and long-term plans and projects that can adapt to the continent’s dynamism and respond to evolving developments.

The Asia Anew Initiative is undertaken through a multi-stakeholder approach. Government agencies, business circles, academia, civil society, and the media collaborate to identify and implement transparent, long-term, stable, and predictable policies that align with the realities of Asia’s sub-regions and their respective countries. Within the framework of the Initiative, Türkiye’s relations with Asian countries and regional organizations will progress based on a positive agenda and concrete cooperation projects.

This approach aims to achieve significant advancements in deepening strategic relations, enhancing economic and trade ties, increasing cooperation with global and regional organizations, and consolidating Türkiye’s soft power—key priorities of Turkish foreign policy. Türkiye’s second largest diplomatic network, after Europe, is located in Asia, comprising 30 embassies and 25 consulates general. Organizations such as TIKA, the Yunus Emre Institute, and the Maarif Foundation, which exemplify Türkiye’s soft power, keep enhancing their presence and activities in Asia Anew.

Within the framework of the Asia Anew Initiative, now in its fifth year, the legal framework of our relations with Asian countries has been reinforced, joint cooperation mechanisms have been revitalized, and the scope of these relations has been broadened. High-level political dialogue with Asian countries has continued to intensify, addressing not only bilateral cooperation issues but also regional and global matters of significant concern to our country. Our engagement with regional organizations in Asia has been reinforced through political dialogue and project-based cooperation. In line with our foreign policy expectations, goals, and priorities, we actively participate in and contribute to the activities of Asian organizations of which we are members or partners.

Diversifying and deepening economic cooperation stands as a key priority of the Initiative. In this framework, the Initiative aims to enhance and balance trade with Asian countries, increase mutual investments, develop partnerships in high value-added sectors utilizing advanced technology, and strengthen Türkiye’s position in supply and value chains, as well as in energy and connectivity projects. The Asian continent, primarily provider of raw materials and intermediate goods, represents a region where Türkiye experiences a significant foreign trade deficit. However, it also presents substantial market potential, driven by its rapidly developing economies and large populations. Approximately one-third of Türkiye’s total trade occurs with countries in this region. The Asia-Pacific region is home to countries capable of providing high-tech inputs and investment goods to the market at competitive costs. Approximately 90 percent of Türkiye’s imports from this region comprise intermediate goods and investment goods.

To address the trade deficit in goods with Asian countries, leveraging the service industries more effectively by utilizing mechanisms that support foreign exchange-generating industries is essential. In this framework, it is crucial to enhance Türkiye’s access to Asian markets and expand the market shares of its service sectors, including education, exhibitions, real estate, cultural and creative industries, logistics and transportation, health and sports tourism, management consultancy, green services, and other service industries. Asian countries are marked also by their significant investment potential. Türkiye provides a conducive environment for international companies to connect with the global value chain, thanks to its strategic location, free trade network—including a customs union with the EU—robust logistics infrastructure, diverse production capabilities, substantial incentives, a cost-competitive qualified labour force, industrial clustering, and a liberal investment climate.

Overseas contracting services are among the sectors where Türkiye demonstrates competitiveness in terms of cost, quality, and duration. The success and prestige of the Turkish contracting sector, particularly in executing significant projects in its immediate region, serve as the primary reference point for pursuing new projects in a broader geography. The infrastructure needs of Asian countries, which have arisen alongside their rapid development, present win-win cooperation opportunities between Turkish companies—known for their extensive experience in conducting business in distant geographies—and the respective Asian nations.

Turkish contracting firms are encouraged to engage in projects in Asian countries that have significant infrastructure needs as part of their development processes.To enhance the cooperation of Turkish businesspeople, who are highly active in neighbouring countries and the Turkic States, in other sub-regions of Asia, we collaborate closely with our umbrella organizations, particularly the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK). We also place significant emphasis on the contributions of the Asia-Pacific Business Councils and the ASEAN Working Group. Within the framework of the Asia Anew Initiative, while systematically enhancing our relations with the Asian continent, we will keep taking steps to address the expectations of our business community in priority sectors and further solidify Türkiye’s key position.