He said it to Mehmet Şimşek's face: He criticized the economic management

MÜSİAD President Burhan Özdemir shared the industrialists' projections for 2025 at a meeting attended by Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek. Özdemir stated that 2025 would not be a "year of balance," but rather a "transition year" filled with cost increases and uncertainties. It was noted that Minister Şimşek took notes while listening to Özdemir's remarks.

INDUSTRIALISTS' OUTLOOK IS WORSENING

The results of the survey conducted by MÜSİAD showed that contractions in domestic sales, exports, and investments are negatively affecting employment and cash flow in the industrial sector. Özdemir drew attention to the pressures this contraction will create, especially on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

FINANCING SHORTAGES ARE CRITICALLY CHALLENGING SMES

Özdemir stated that access to finance, inflation, and cost pressures will be among the primary areas where industrialists will struggle most in 2026. Özdemir emphasized that for firms, it is no longer just about finding money, but that the maturity and cost of that money have also become a major problem. It was stated that as a result of the contraction in bank loans, firms are turning to alternative financing methods such as equity and partnerships. Özdemir said that SMEs have become more fragile as inflation persists.

The data shared at the meeting revealed structural problems and income inequality in the Turkish economy. Özdemir stated that in the last two years, the total of imported finished consumer goods has surpassed raw material imports. He said this situation carries a "risk of cooling in production." Furthermore, emphasizing that the consumption of luxury imported goods has doubled, Özdemir stated that this is causing the socioeconomic inequality in Turkey to deepen further.

EXPECTATIONS FOR REFORM ARE RISING IN 2026

Reform demands are at the forefront of MÜSİAD members' expectations for 2026. Özdemir announced that the business world's greatest expectation is for tax legislation to be simplified and made more predictable. He pointed out that the complexity of the legislation directs capital toward non-productive areas. Additionally, it was stated that flexible financing options outside of traditional banking models should be implemented for SMEs.

News Source: 12punto