The Grand National Assembly of Turkey Planning and Budget Commission, under the chairmanship of AKP Samsun Deputy Mehmet Muş, started discussions on the budget, final accounts and Court of Accounts reports of the Ministry of Industry and Technology and affiliated institutions and organizations for 2027.
Following the presentation of the Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, the commission members took the floor. NEW Party Kocaeli Deputy Nail Çiler, drawing attention to the closing of factories in Kocaeli, which he described as the capital of industry, the moving of production abroad and the problems experienced by SMEs, said, "I live in the capital of Industry, Kocaeli. My city has no problems, we are not aware of it. Our export target in 2023 was 500 billion dollars. You remained at 173 billion dollars in 2025. Dear Minister, the facts are "We know the number of factories that are closed, we know how difficult it is to access credit," he said.
Stating that the unemployment figures have increased, the number of workplaces closed has increased and citizens are experiencing financial difficulties, Çiler also touched upon the problem of gradual retirement and said, "There are citizens who miss retirement by a day or two. You have not solved gradual retirement yet. There are no jobs in some sectors. Speaking of the fund, I guess this fund has been the work of some elites in Türkiye. I wonder if the fund emphasis has a political leg or not? I want to ask this specifically as a politician. Will those responsible be held accountable?" "Also, which institutions and names will the investigation reach? The society especially expects this from you," he said.
Regarding the funding crisis, Çiler asked Minister Kacır, "Does the fund raise have a political basis or not? I want to ask that specifically. Will those responsible be held accountable? Also, which institutions and names will the investigation reach? Society expects this from you."
Reacting to the establishment of lines belonging to Yıldızlar Holding in Kartepe, Çiler said, "Kocaeli Kartepe is the pearl of Kocaeli, one of the capitals of tourism in Marmara. You brought Yıldızlar Holding to establish a rolling mill in the heart of the city, you declared it an industrial zone; is this true or not? There is a court date on November 10. Because we filed a lawsuit. I want a review of these."
Stating that the budget of the Ministry of Industry and Technology should be evaluated not only on the allocated resources but also on the contribution of these resources to production and technology, Çiler said:
"Mr. Minister, in the past, trucks used to come to factories to pick up loads. Now trucks are coming to move factories abroad. Yes, you are successful in your field, I see that. But this needs to be seen in reality. When we look at the budget of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, we need to look not only at the resources allocated, but also how much of these resources contribute to production and technology."
ARPACI: "YOU ARE THE MOST FAILED INDUSTRY MINISTER IN HISTORY"
NEW Party Denizli Deputy Şeref Arpacı also stated that the budget of the Ministry of Industry and Technology increased by 40.6 percent compared to last year, but its share in the central budget did not increase. Stating that the ministry budget is 249 billion liras, Arpacı said, "You have received an increase of 40.6 percent, well above the expected inflation, which is very good. However, its share in central expenditures is 0.91. In other words, it has been fluctuating between 0.70 and 0.90 for 8-10 years. Your share of the central budget in general does not increase. Its ratio to the gross domestic product is around 2 per thousand. The ratio of interest expenses to the ministry budget is 16 times." he said.
Pointing to the changes in the industrial policies of the USA, China and the European Union, Arpacı drew attention to the importance of Turkey's exports to the European market. Stating that the European Union binds public procurement and supports to "Made in Europe", final assembly and low carbon conditions, Arpacı said:
"Considering that 43 percent of our exports are to Europe, this transformation is really vital for Turkey. What did you do at a time when the European Union was rewriting the rules of exports? You managed to de-industrialize Türkiye in three years. You introduced a new expression to the literature, Mr. Minister. Let me be frank, you are the most unsuccessful industry minister in history. You may have done good things in technology, but you are truly unsuccessful for the Ministry of Industry. I brought you this plaque, Mr. Minister, you failed in terms of industry," he said.
Arpacı, who argued that the Ministry did not have sufficient preparation for the industrial transformation of the European Union, said, "The words Europe or carbon do not appear in the 91 measures for which your Ministry is responsible. There is no mention of Made in Europe in your presentation here. You do not have a share in the budget we prepared in 2027 and allocated for the transformation."
Stating that the automotive, electrical equipment and metal sectors, which will be directly affected by the transformation of the European Union, constitute more than 50 percent of Turkey's exports to the EU, Arpacı claimed that Turkey is unprepared in these areas. Arpacı said, "France, Germany and the United Kingdom reached an agreement, a compromise, but our name is not mentioned. It is not clear whether Volkswagen will invest in 2019, BYD in 2025, and now Chery. It is obvious that we will lose a huge market in exports."
Referring to the steel regime of the European Union, Arpacı stated that a quota limit of 2.86 million tons was imposed on Turkey and that Turkey exported 7 million tons in 2025 and said, "The loss is 4 million tons, 3 billion dollars is a loss in just one sector."
Stating that the share of the manufacturing industry in the gross domestic product decreased from 22 percent in 2022 to 15.5 percent in 2025, Arpacı noted that the 2026 target was 17 percent, but this target could not be achieved, and the 2027 target was determined as 15.9 percent.
"WILL Türkiye GET RICH BY SELLING COFFEE TO EACH OTHER?"
Sharing the data on the loss of employment in the manufacturing industry, Arpacı said, "Manufacturing employment decreased by 3.2 percent in 2025 and by 2.7 percent in the first seven months of 2026. There is a collapse in labor-intensive branches. It decreased by 31 percent in ready-made clothing, 20 percent in machinery, 18 percent in leather, and 10 percent in durable goods. Automotive production decreased by 17 percent in the first nine months of 2026. Automotive exports on a quantity basis decreased by 10 percent." "27 is back," he said.
Arpacı, who argued that electric vehicle and battery investments went to Hungary, criticized industrial policies due to the closure of factories and the shift of production to different sectors. Arpacı said, "2 thousand 400 factories are for sale, it has increased by 60 percent compared to last year. You are building new OIZs, but the existing factories are leaving. People started to sell their sewing machines, embroidery machines, cutting machines and buy coffee machines. People sell their lathes and CNC machines and buy tables, chairs, stoves and ovens and enter the restaurant business. Will Turkey get rich by selling coffee to each other, Mr. Minister? Please answer this."
