Türkiye's information and communication technologies (ICT) sector has become an essential part of the economy with
exports reaching USD 3,3 billion to the EU, MENA, Asian, and North American regions. Türkiye's primary export
destination, the EU, receives the majority of Türkiye's ICT exports in software, hardware, equipment, and services.
With an estimate of USD 21 billion worth of international investments attracted since the early 2000s, Türkiye's
employment in the sector has surpassed 246,000. Today, almost 60 percent of employment in the ICT sector is R&D
personnel, and 70 percent of those employed in the sector are younger than 35.
Türkiye's talent pool is further supported by an increasing number of university graduates in engineering and ICT
fields. In 2024 alone, the number of graduates in the specified fields passed 88,000. The availability of a
qualified
workforce and modest labor costs continue to make Türkiye a competitive country in the region.
As the ICT sector is considered a priority sector by the Turkish government, various initiatives have been taken to
promote investments in the area. The greatest indicator of these efforts is the R&D Law, first introduced in 2008
and
then revised in 2016, entailing the government's support areas in R&D and introducing an incentives package. The
incentives package includes corporate tax exemptions, VAT exemptions, social security premium support, and more.