Turkey & Eurasia Business — 2026-11-10

Key Highlights

Apple’s Major Expansion in Türkiye U.S. technology giant Apple announced a long-term investment in Türkiye, unveiling plans to establish seven new education and technology facilities. The investment includes five developer academies and a developer center, aimed at helping developers build apps and assisting businesses in adopting artificial intelligence in manufacturing. The facilities are set to open starting next year as part of a broader commitment to app development and manufacturing in the country.

Industrial Production Rebound Official data released on Tuesday showed that industrial production in Türkiye rebounded in September, increasing on both a monthly and annual basis. This uptick suggests growing momentum in the country's industrial sector amid broader economic developments.

Tim Cook’s Istanbul Visit Tim Cook, the former chief executive and current chair of Apple, made a surprise visit to Istanbul on Sunday. This high-profile visit preceded the official announcement of the new investments, highlighting the direct engagement of top leadership with the Turkish ecosystem.

Analysis

The most significant business development this week is Apple’s decision to establish a physical footprint in Türkiye through seven new facilities. This move goes beyond mere sales presence; by focusing on developer academies and AI adoption in manufacturing, Apple is embedding itself into the local technical infrastructure. The timing, following Tim Cook’s personal visit to Istanbul, suggests a strategic alignment with Türkiye’s growing startup ecosystem and its ambitions to become a regional tech hub. For local businesses, this offers new avenues for upskilling and integrating with global supply chains, particularly in the high-value-added sectors of software development and smart manufacturing.

What to Watch

• Implementation Timeline: Monitor the progress of opening the five developer academies and the developer center, which are scheduled to begin operations starting next year.
• AI Integration in Manufacturing: Observe how quickly Turkish manufacturing firms adopt the AI tools and frameworks introduced through Apple’s new initiatives, potentially boosting productivity and export competitiveness.
• Further Tech Investments: Watch for other major technology firms potentially following Apple’s lead, given the demonstrated interest from global players in Türkiye’s developer talent pool.