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TURKEY LOGISTICS SUMMIT 2025 & WOMEN'S IMPACT REPORT IN THE LOGISTICS SECTOR PRESS CONFERENCE HELD

26.10.2025Turkish Forwarding and Logistics Association (UTİKAD) has announced its goal to elevate the Turkish logistics sector to a market size of $200 billion and rank among the world's top 10 countries, and unveiled two strategic initiatives focused on innovation, technology, and inclusive sustainability at a press conference. Leading the transformation to establish Türkiye as a major logistics hub, UTİKAD’s first strategic move is the Türkiye Logistics Summit 2025, to be held on November 7 with Turkish Cargo as the main sponsor. This summit will address rapidly shifting global logistics dynamics and future-shaping industry topics, featuring the most current data and expert opinions. UTİKAD’s second strategic step is the "Women's Impact in the Logistics Sector Report," prepared to examine the crucial role of women's presence and representation in the global logistics industry. Data from the "Women's Impact in the Logistics Sector Report" was shared publicly for the first time at the conference, underscoring that sector growth is inextricably linked to equal opportunity.

UTİKAD, the most extensive non-governmental organization of the Turkish transportation and logistics industry, used the press conference to announce its sectoral growth targets and the two strategic steps designed to achieve them.

The Turkish logistics and transport sector reached a market size of $100 billion as of 2024, single-handedly accounting for 40% of Türkiye’s $115.2 billion service exports. Taking the Ministry of Trade’s $78 billion service export target for the logistics and transport sector in 2028 as a benchmark, UTİKAD is setting its sights on a $200 billion market size goal for the industry.

The press conference highlighted the necessity of a sectoral transformation to achieve the $200 billion target, driven by changes in global geopolitical balances and logistics dynamics. UTİKAD is spearheading this transformation: while it maximizes Türkiye’s strategic advantage with the Türkiye Logistics Summit 2025—now one of the most important global logistics gatherings—it simultaneously takes a major step in equal opportunity and inclusivity by publishing the "Women's Impact in the Logistics Sector Report."

The $200 Billion Sector Goal and Establishing Türkiye as a Dominant Global Logistics Hub
UTİKAD President Bilgehan Engin, stated: "We are aiming for Türkiye to become a dominant global logistics hub, achieving a market size of $200 billion and securing a place among the world's top 10 in this field. Our sector possesses the necessary knowledge, experience, competence, quality, and managerial vision to realize—and even surpass—this objective. However, it is paramount that we adapt to the rapid changes in geopolitical balances, global logistics dynamics, and international trade practices through a transformation focused on innovation, technology, and inclusive sustainability."

Bilgehan Engin noted that UTİKAD has always taken concrete steps to pioneer the establishment and development of a logistics culture in Türkiye and ensure the sector's sustainable development in line with international standards. He continued: "Today, we are announcing two significant steps. The first is our Türkiye Logistics Summit event, the second iteration of which will be held on November 7, 2025, under the main sponsorship of Turkish Cargo. The second is the Women's Impact in the Logistics Sector Report, which we have prepared regarding the presence and representation of women—a critical issue for the global logistics sector, not just in terms of diversity and inclusion, but also for efficiency, sustainability, and innovation."

Pioneers of Innovation Take the Stage at Türkiye Logistics Summit 2025
Bilgehan Engin stated that the Türkiye Logistics Summit 2025, organized under the main sponsorship of Turkish Cargo, has become one of the most significant international gatherings in the sector in just its second year. Engin said, "Our summit, which brings together global logistics leaders, experts, and decision-makers, has established its place on the global agenda as a crucial platform for strategic collaborations. The summit will also feature a multi-stakeholder structure, including technology developers and academics, to accelerate sectoral transformation."

Bilgehan Engin added: "Today, the geopolitical landscape and global business climate are chaotic and complex, containing both conflicts and risks, as well as opportunities. While countries pursue pragmatic gains amidst conflicts, global companies are actively seeking to reduce risk and capitalize on opportunities in other regions by diversifying their supply chains and production activities. Türkiye's unique location offers a dual opportunity: to become a dominant logistics hub between East and West through strategic projects like the Middle Corridor, and to be positioned as an alternative sourcing country amid global tensions. To leverage these opportunities, it is essential to analyze these global dynamics alongside critical issues such as digital transformation, AI-powered logistics solutions, green and sustainable logistics practices, supply chain security, and new trends in international trade. The Türkiye Logistics Summit 2025, where we will address these opportunities in conjunction with new trends like digital transformation, AI, and green logistics, will articulate the sector's transformation vision under our motto: ‘Pioneering the Future of Logistics.’ We aim to gather over 1,000 participants across 4 main panels, 2 special sessions, and dedicated experience zones."
Engin also highlighted UTİKAD’s leadership in the sustainability transition, adding that the summit will be organized as a carbon-neutral event.

An Equality-Focused Invitation to the Future with the $200 Billion Goal: UTİKAD "Women's Impact in the Logistics Sector Report"
Bilgehan Engin stated that a key strategic step towards the Turkish logistics and transport sector's $200 billion growth target is the "Women's Impact in the Logistics Sector Report," prepared with the contributions of the UTİKAD Women in Logistics Focus Group (WLFG). Engin remarked, "The report reveals the quantitative and qualitative contributions of women to the sector, while also pointing out significant issues that require solutions to maximize these contributions. We view the concepts of equal opportunity and inclusivity—central to our agenda—as a strategic imperative for our sector's $200 billion growth target. Our status as the first NGO to receive the 'Equality for Woman at Work' is a tangible demonstration of our commitment. The 'Women's Impact in the Logistics Sector Report,' prepared with the support of our Women in Logistics Focus Group (WLFG), represents our latest and most important step in this direction."

"Stagnation in Women’s Advancement to Management; Our Report is a Call to Action to Clear This Path"
Aslı Malay Tuncer, Coordinator of the UTİKAD Women in Logistics Focus Group (WLFG), which spearheaded the report's preparation, provided insights into the report’s genesis and core findings: "As the UTİKAD Women in Logistics Focus Group, our fundamental goal is to make women's labor and value visible within the sector. Key steps in this mission include our mentoring programs, which light the way for young colleagues, and continuous support through sectoral training and visibility initiatives. The 'Women's Impact in the Logistics Sector Report,' developed with this vision, presents a critical reality backed by data: Despite the presence of competent and experienced women employees in our sector, there is significant stagnation in their progression to senior management and decision-making roles, with representation remaining below 10%. This calls for accountability. The value women add to processes through competencies like communication, crisis management, and technological adaptability is vital for our sector's future. Our report is a call to action designed to break through this ceiling and pave an equitable path that will inspire future generations."

Women's Impact Vindicated by the Numbers
The findings of the Women's Impact in the Logistics Sector Report, detailed by Selin Obdan, WLFG Istanbul Regional Vice President, confirm the critical role of women in the sector with concrete data.

The presence of women employees positively influences areas such as service quality (88%), customer satisfaction (86%), operational resilience (82%), and risk management (80%). However, the report’s most striking finding is the inadequate representation of women in top management, despite this proven positive impact. With the rate of female CEOs standing at 17%, the fact that 47% of companies have no women executives in C-Level positions is highlighted as the most crucial area for improvement in the sector.

"We Want All Women by Our Side"
UTİKAD President, Bilgehan Engin, concluded his assessment of the report: "This report not only showcases the invaluable contribution women make to our sector but also acts as a roadmap, pointing to the areas we must focus on to fully unlock their potential. We want all women by our side. This is an invitation to an equality-focused future. Because we know that the presence of women in the sector is not merely a matter of diversity; it is fundamentally an issue of efficiency, sustainability, and innovation."