ISTANBUL, September 4, 2026 — Türkiye’s Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek said the wider region encompassing Türkiye faces more than $1 trillion in reconstruction costs if conflicts in the surrounding geography come to an end, highlighting the potential role of Turkish companies in the process.
Şimşek made the remarks during a conversation on the YouTube channel of The Marco Polo Drive, a global communications initiative, where he appeared alongside Chinese investor Patrick Zhong and U.S. economist and academic Jeffrey Sachs.
Regional economic transformation discussed
The discussion focused on the economic transformation facing a broad geography stretching across the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe, the Black Sea and the Caucasus.
The participants also discussed Turkish diplomacy, developments in Ukraine and the prospects for greater regional integration.
Şimşek emphasized that if conflicts in Türkiye’s surrounding region come to an end, the area could require at least $1 trillion in reconstruction over the next decade.
He highlighted Türkiye’s potential to benefit from this process, particularly through its advanced real sector, technology capabilities, workforce and financial sector.
Turkish contractors and manufacturing could play key role
The discussion underlined the importance of Türkiye’s construction industry and manufacturing infrastructure in meeting the region’s potential reconstruction needs.
Türkiye’s construction companies have extensive experience in international projects, while the country’s manufacturing base could support the rebuilding of infrastructure and industrial capacity across neighboring markets.
The conversation also touched on the sociology of the region and the ancient legend of Maiden’s Tower (Kız Kulesi) in Istanbul.
The Marco Polo Drive
The Marco Polo Drive is a symbolic journey of approximately 15,000 kilometers from Rome to Hong Kong using electric vehicles, sponsored by Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD.
The initiative brings together figures from business, academia and public life to discuss economic, technological and geopolitical developments along the route.
Source: Patronlar Dünyası/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök