Türkiye to be 'indispensable logistics hub' amid regional crises, transport leader says

Türkiye's role as a regional logistics power becomes evident when connecting the Development Road Project and the Middle Corridor to the European Union, International Transporters' Association (UND) Executive Board Chairman Alper Ozel said, adding that the country will be the indispensable logistics hub, offering reliable supply chains despite regional uncertainties. The Turkish transport sector keeps the Caucasus, Black Sea, and Gulf regions standing and will continue to do so, Ozel told Anadolu.

No corridor without Türkiye

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's statement that there can be no corridor without Türkiye reflects the reality that regional supply chains must utilize Turkish transporters, he recalled. He noted that recent corridor agreements between India and the EU cannot effectively bypass Türkiye. European merchants increasingly prefer Turkish transporters due to their unmatched maneuverability and regional knowledge, despite uncertainties from conflicts involving the US, Israel, and Iran.

Alternative routes

The logistics crisis related to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which trapped hundreds of cargo ships and tankers in the Gulf region, highlighted alternative routes. Türkiye, thanks to its strategic location as a bridge between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, is able to link energy corridors without interruption.

Saudi visa move

This established logistical strength is further supported by Saudi Arabia's recent decision to grant transit visas to Turkish truck drivers, he stressed. Ozel said opening the highway to the Gulf region with this visa convenience will enable Turkish export products to reach their destinations much faster. A truck loaded in Türkiye can unload its cargo in Saudi Arabia in just seven or eight days, an advantage maritime transport cannot match.

Return to pre-war figures

Ozel expressed confidence that the sector will soon return to pre-war figures, recalling that Türkiye previously conducted 100,000 bilateral transports to Syria and 50,000 Turkish trucks transited to Saudi Arabia. The new transit visa system will cover all types of export products, from food to construction materials.