Türkiye Announces 2025 Investment Priorities

YOİKK Action Plan's new focus

The Coordination Council for the Improvement of Investment Environment Published the 2025 Action Plan

On 10 July 2025, the Coordination Council for the Improvement of Investment Environment (YOİKK) published the 2025 Action Plan ("Action Plan"). The Action Plan includes 39 action items and initiatives designed to align with key policy and strategy documents, such as the Medium Term Program, the 12th Development Plan and the "Century of Türkiye" vision, based on the needs of the private sector regarding investment environment.

The Action Plan is available here (in Turkish).

What's introduced in the Action Plan?

The Action Plan includes a diverse set of action items and/or initiatives across various sectors, aimed at supporting private sector investments, facilitating investment procedures, and addressing legal, administrative and bureaucratic challenges faced by both national and international investors. Key focus areas include amendments to the personal data protection legislation, enhancement of ESG and sustainability processes, establishment of cloud computing strategies and review of data localization legislation, updates to the artificial intelligence strategy, advancement of digitalization efforts, harmonization with European legislation on trade secrets and implementation of 5G authorization processes.

The Action Plan identifies various responsible stakeholders for the implementation of the identified objectives and the coordination of the process, including the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Industry and Technology, the Presidency of Republic of Türkiye Investment & Finance Office, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, and the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change.

The highlights of the Action Plan are as follows:

A. Protection of Personal Data

• Completion of the harmonization process of Personal Data Protection Law No. 6698 ("Law") with the relevant European Union (EU) legislation, particularly the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

• Preparation and implementation of legislative framework with the aim of supporting the digitalization of human resources processes within companies, enabling the digital management of key HR activities (including obtaining consents under the Law), collecting employee approvals for changes in the internal rules, and conducting procedures such as recruitment, termination, payroll processing and training through digital platforms

B. ESG

• Preparation of Türkiye's Green Taxonomy, covering environmental objectives in line with the EU taxonomy

• Within the framework of the Turkish Carbon Offsetting System's establishment: (i) development/adaptation of methodologies related to emission mitigation and recovery by the Turkish Standards Institution (TSE), development of relevant standards within the scope of the system and establishment of a registration system; (ii) accreditation of validation and verification bodies by the Turkish Accreditation Agency (TÜRKAK); and (iii) establishment of the Carbon Offset Committee under the Presidency of Climate Change to determine the general policies of the system

• Preparation of a report on the use of certificates related to the circular economy such as clean energy, recycling, waste management and water use, with the aim of promoting these certifications and enhancing access to financing opportunities

• Drafting of secondary legislation following the enactment of the proposed amendments submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, aimed at facilitating the process of obtaining permits, approvals and licenses during the pre-licensing period for renewable energy investments

• Facilitation of the capacity allocations of production facilities based on renewable energy resources that have production for self-consumption at the same point

• Revision of Turkish tax legislation in connection with the Climate Law, with a focus on integrating carbon-related taxation mechanisms and aligning fiscal regulations with emission levels

• Preparation of Türkiye's Hydrogen Action Plan, which will set forth Türkiye's steps and actions for the entire value chain of hydrogen, including legislative infrastructure, market creation, legislation, security elements and implementation to develop the hydrogen ecosystem

• Enhancing support for R&D efforts in technologies such as electrolyzers and fuel cells to mobilize the green hydrogen ecosystem

• Promotion of the essential infrastructure for green hydrogen production, which is among the priority sectors under the HIT-30 High Technology Investment Programme

• Preparation of technical works for harmonization with the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)

C. Cloud Computing Strategies

• Establishment of the National Data and Cloud Computing Strategies and revision of the legislation on data localization to enhance cloud computing technologies

D. Artificial Intelligence

• Preparation and implementation of an Artificial Intelligence Strategy Document and Action Plan for the 2026- 2030 period, with the aim of enhancing Türkiye's capabilities in the field of artificial intelligence

• Finalization of the report and roadmap, initiated under the 2024 Action Plan, regarding Türkiye's alignment with key EU digital regulations, including the Cyber Resilience Act, the Data Act, the Data Governance Act, the Product Liability Directive, the Artificial Intelligence Act and other relevant legislative frameworks affecting exports

E. Digitalization

• Completion of legal and technical analyses by considering the global "digital company" practices

• Implementation of legislation to allow new technology startups to complete the incorporation process in a leaner and fully digital way, and preparation of legislation to exempt such companies from formalities and financial burdens related to company operations for a certain period of time

• Completion of the preparatory work for amending Electronic Signature Law No. 5070 to include technical conditions that can encompass globally accepted practices

F. Trade Secrets

• Completion of the technical works for the harmonization of national legislation with the EU Directive on the Protection of Trade Secrets and submission of the legislation prepared in the 2024 Action Plan period to the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye

G. 5G Authorization

• Obtainment of the public institutions' and private sector's consultation on 5G authorization and conducting of coordinated studies

• Within the scope of 5G authorization, development of strategy and policy recommendations regarding frequency bands and minimum values to be allocated to operators, tender times, authorization periods, coverage obligations, and determination of obligations to increase the use of domestic and national products by accounting for the domestic production capacities of manufacturers

Conclusion

The Action Plan aims to make Türkiye's investment environment more predictable, competitive and investor-friendly. In this regard, by considering the private sector's needs and requests, the Action Plan envisages legislative studies and various action items and initiatives to ensure Türkiye's harmonization with EU legislation in various sectors, particularly regarding the protection of personal data, ESG, cloud computing strategies, artificial intelligence, digitalization, trade secrets and 5G authorization.