The message that business ties between Greece and Turkey are constantly strengthening and that companies in both countries now view one another as reliable partners, said the ambassador of Turkey to Greece, Tsagatay Erciyes, during the official presentation of the 2nd Greek-Turkish Hackathon.
The Turkish diplomat recalled the success of last year’s event on the theme of “Smart Cities”, emphasizing that it succeeded in bringing together young people from both countries, who presented innovative ideas and projects with significant potential.
Thanking all those who contributed to the success of the first initiative, he noted that the positive results served as a springboard for its continuation. As he mentioned, this year’s event focuses on Artificial Intelligence, a field that, as he said, is already shaping the future of economies, industries and societies on a global scale.
“By choosing Artificial Intelligence as the central theme, we are investing in the future and empowering young innovators to actively participate in shaping it,” he emphasized.
Referring to economic relations between Greece and Turkey, Mr. Erciyes noted that the volume of bilateral trade reached $6.7 billion in 2025, noting that the two countries are steadily moving toward the common goal of $10 billion set by their leaders three years ago.
At the same time, he emphasized that mutual trust between the business communities is constantly strengthening. As a prime example, he cited the acquisition of the Turkish company Traçim by the Greek company Titan Cement, through an investment of $190 million, arguing that this agreement reflects the growing trust developing between the two sides.
He even expressed the expectation that more opportunities will arise in the near future for Turkish investments in Greece, as the climate of cooperation improves.
The Turkish ambassador also emphasized the complementarity of the two economies, noting that sectors such as construction, infrastructure, and energy can serve as areas for developing new partnerships and investment initiatives to the benefit of both countries.
“Our economic relations must be based on mutual benefit, trust, and constructive cooperation. The Hackathon embodies precisely this philosophy,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, he emphasized that the event goes beyond the scope of a simple competition, as it functions as a collaboration platform that brings together Greek and Turkish innovators with the goal of jointly shaping the future.
