What are the implications for regional trade and investment of the Turkiye-Abu Dhabi port deal failure?

The failed port negotiations between Turkiye and Abu Dhabi Ports (ADP) represent a major disappointment for the economic goals of both countries. Turkiye’s Transportation Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu stated that negotiations for expanding İzmir’s Alsancak Port ended without agreement which would have improved Turkiye’s maritime trade capabilities. It is clear that the collapse of this deal obstructs planned infrastructure advancements while also jeopardising the target to boost bilateral trade from $10 billion in 2022 to $40bn by 2028. This situation demonstrates the widespread difficulties encountered by international trade partnerships and their subsequent impact on regional economies. Relatedly, the planned Alsancak Port expansion aimed to achieve a 20 per cent rise in cargo handling, which was vital because Turkiye serves as a […]