Organized in collaboration between Anadolu Agency and the Participation Banks Association of Türkiye (TKBB), the “Anadolu Agency Participation Finance Summit” brought together leading representatives from the public sector, finance, and business at the Istanbul Finance Center.

Held under the theme “Türkiye’s Participation Finance Vision: Sustainable Growth, Digital Transformation, and New Investment Models,” the summit comprehensively assessed Türkiye’s strategic goals in the participation finance sector, the financial transformation process, and the global role of the Istanbul Financial Center.

Delivering the opening remarks, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz emphasized that the participation finance sector plays a critical role in Türkiye’s economic goals of production, investment, and sustainable development, and stated that Türkiye will continue to strengthen its global position in the field of interest-free finance. Yılmaz also highlighted the efforts underway to establish the Istanbul Financial Center as a key hub within the international financial ecosystem.

Burak Dağlıoğlu, Head of the Investment and Finance Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, noted that Türkiye possesses significant growth potential in the field of participation finance, stating that digitalization, innovative financial products, and international investor interest present major opportunities for the sector. Dağlıoğlu highlighted the vision for the Istanbul Financial Center to become an investment hub at both regional and global scales.

In the opening remarks of the summit, Mehmet Ali Akben, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Islamic Banking Association (TKBB), emphasized that the Islamic finance sector has evolved into a robust ecosystem that extends beyond banking to include capital markets, insurance, and investment instruments. Akben highlighted the importance of collaboration between the public sector, the private sector, and financial institutions to sustain the sector’s growth momentum, noting that Türkiye’s global position in the participation finance sector will further strengthen. Serdar Karagöz, Chairman of the Board and General Manager of Anadolu Agency, also noted that participation finance is gaining increasing importance within the global financial system due to its ethical, sustainable, and inclusive nature.

Fatih Karahan, Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye, provided assessments on financial stability, the fight against inflation, and economic policies during a special session held as part of the summit. Karahan highlighted the importance of sustainable growth and a climate of trust for the financial system, noting that the participation finance sector plays a significant role in terms of financial diversity and inclusivity.

In his closing remarks, Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek addressed the core objectives of the program implemented in the Turkish economy, as well as steps toward fiscal discipline and strengthening the investment environment. Şimşek emphasized that the deepening of the participation finance sector holds strategic importance for Türkiye’s long-term economic goals, noting that efforts are ongoing to help the sector achieve a stronger structure on an international scale.

During the panels held as part of the summit, topics that will shape the future of the participation finance sector were comprehensively discussed by sector leaders and experts.

In the session titled “Future Strategies of Participation Banks and Türkiye’s Participation Economy,” the sector’s growth targets, financial inclusion, contributions to the real economy, and the strategic role of the Istanbul Financial Center were evaluated by the General Managers of our member banks.

In the “Participation-Based Investment Products: Return Performance and New Models” panel, the development of participation-based investment products, including investment funds and alternative financing instruments, and investor interest were thoroughly examined by industry experts.

In the session titled “The Role of Digitalization in the Future of Participation Finance,” financial technologies, digital banking applications, AI-driven solutions, and transformation processes in the customer experience were addressed by the General Managers of our member banks.

Through the contributions of public institutions, financial sector representatives, academics, and experts, the panels comprehensively outlined opportunities to enhance Türkiye’s global competitive strength in the field of participation finance, as well as a vision for the new era.

As the Participation Banks Association of Türkiye, we were pleased to come together with all our stakeholders at this important event, which contributes to the development of the participation finance ecosystem.