Often described as Türkiye’s industrial, commercial, financial, and cultural capital, Istanbul continues to be the driving force of the Turkish economy today, just as it has been throughout history. Half of Türkiye’s total exports and imports are conducted through Istanbul, while tourism revenues and nearly one-third of the companies operating in Türkiye are also based in the city. Thanks to its geopolitical position, Istanbul is able to conduct financial and trade activities within the same time zone with many regions of the world, particularly the Far East, Europe, and Africa.

According to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute, Istanbul makes the largest contribution to Türkiye’s overall export performance on a provincial basis. Looking at Türkiye’s foreign trade figures, Istanbul alone accounts for 39.1% of the country’s total exports, with export volumes approaching USD 100 billion.