December 2, 2025
Rival, or unrivalled? The machinery industry in a new world order
Wednesday 26 November: Director General Ulrich Adam joined the MAKFED 2025 Turkish Machinery Summit in Istanbul where strengthening industrial competitiveness and technological innovation were the key themes.
Key takeaways include:
- EU-Turkey trade in machinery and electrical equipment is an incredible and overlooked success story;
- Along with motor vehicles, machinery and electrical equipment lead the way for trade on both sides;
- Now in its 30th year, the EU-Turkey Customs Union has served as the driver behind this mutually beneficial trading relationship.
"It was fascinating to hear from our Turkish peers and counterparts on the very comparable challenges they face today, and a valuable opportunity to share our own insights into how the new multipolar world order is affecting the machinery sector from a European perspective."
Looking ahead for the EU-Turkey relationship:
- Common challenges regarding supply chains, economic slowdown, security and energy could be mutual opportunities;
- The Customs Agreement needs modernisation, including a possibility to support competitiveness and economic security on both sides;
- Business communities on both sides show support for ongoing and open political dialogue and engagement.