22.12.2025 11:05
The Minister of Treasury and Finance, Mehmet Şimşek, gave important messages regarding the new year. He stated that they expect inflation to fall below 20% in 2026, saying, "It will be a year in which especially our low and fixed-income citizens will become stronger. There will be a recovery in the economy. The reconstruction and rehabilitation of the earthquake-affected region will be completed. Budget discipline will be reinforced. And it will be a year in which concerns and uncertainties regarding financial stability will further decrease."
Mehmet Şimşek, the Minister of Treasury and Finance, who was awarded an honorary doctorate by Batman University, delivered a presentation titled "Global Challenges and Turkey" at the ceremony. Speaking to Yavuz Donat, a columnist for Sabah Newspaper, before the visit, Şimşek made noteworthy evaluations regarding the economic program and the year 2026.
"INFLATION WILL BE FELT LESS"
Minister Şimşek stated that the concrete results of the economic program implemented in 2026 will be felt more clearly, and he expressed that they expect inflation to fall below 20%. Şimşek said, "2026 will be a year when the cost of living will be felt less, especially for our citizens with low and fixed incomes, who will become economically stronger."
Emphasizing that the recovery in the economy will gain momentum, Şimşek noted that growth will increase somewhat more in 2026. He mentioned that the reconstruction and revitalization efforts in the earthquake-affected areas will be largely completed, and budget discipline will be further strengthened, adding that concerns about financial stability will also decrease.
A NEW ERA FOR THE EAST AND SOUTHEAST
Opening a special parenthesis for the "Terror-Free Turkey" process, Minister Şimşek stated that this process will provide a three-dimensional gain in terms of economic development. Reminding that approximately 2 trillion dollars have been spent on the fight against terrorism in the last 47 years, Şimşek expressed that with the end of terrorism, the country's resources will be directed towards development and especially regional development.
Şimşek pointed out that Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia have received significant support in terms of infrastructure, education, and human resources investments, but private sector investments have not reached the desired level due to security concerns. He stated, "With a Terror-Free Turkey, the East and Southeast will become Turkey's new growth engine. Thanks to the young population, fertile lands, and favorable climate, these regions will turn into new manufacturing and industrial centers."
REGIONAL STABILITY AND RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBORS
Expressing that Turkey's surrounding geography has long been associated with instability and conflicts, Şimşek emphasized that with the end of terrorism, not only Turkey but the entire region will rise through economic integration. Highlighting that the prerequisite for an increase in prosperity is security and stability, Şimşek stated that a new era in relations with neighboring countries is also possible.
Stating that Turkey is at a more advanced point in terms of industry, production, and development compared to its region, Minister Şimşek expressed that this advantage will contribute to both the national economy and regional peace in a terror-free environment.