
Turkey earmarks billions for AI and quadruples data centre capacity
Turkey is taking a significant step towards digital transformation and the strengthening of its technological infrastructure, as recently announced by the Minister of Industry and Technology, Mehmet Fatih Kacır.
The government plans to allocate two percent of its total public investment towards projects involving artificial intelligence (AI). The objective is also to quadruple the country' s data centre capacity by 2030, while simultaneously facilitating over 10 billion dollars in private investment within this critical technology sector.
These initiatives underscore Turkey' s commitment to becoming a leading player in advanced technology. The focus on artificial intelligence is broad, spanning from the defence industry and industrial innovation to the digitisation of public services.
By investing heavily in AI, Turkey hopes to increase its national competitiveness, improve efficiency within the public sector, and promote the development of new technological solutions across the entire economy. The plan to quadruple the nation' s data centre capacity by 2030 represents an ambitious expansion of data infrastructure and is a fundamental pillar of Turkey’s digital strategy.
Data centres form the backbone of modern digital infrastructure, which is necessary for the storage, processing, and distribution of vast quantities of data.
This expansion is crucial for supporting the growth of AI applications, cloud services, and an increasingly digitised economy. A robust data infrastructure ensures not only operational efficiency but also digital sovereignty by reducing reliance on foreign storage solutions and strengthening national data security.
Investments in data centres will help meet the growing demand for digital services from both the public and private sectors. This will also position Turkey as an attractive hub for data storage and processing in the region.
Such a move could attract international technology companies and strengthen the nation' s standing in the global digital economy.
Regarding the role of the private sector and economic growth, mobilising private investment is essential to realise these ambitious goals. The government' s commitment to allocating two percent of public funds to AI, combined with its clear targets for data centre capacity, sends a strong signal to the market.
The goal of attracting over 10 billion dollars in private investment within the AI and data infrastructure sectors points to a broader strategy to stimulate growth and innovation. This partnership model between the public and private sectors is central to accelerating technological development and ensuring sustainable growth.
The initiative is expected to have a significant positive impact on Turkey' s economy.
It will create new job opportunities, particularly within high-tech fields, and assist in diversifying the country' s industrial base. By fostering the development of advanced AI and data infrastructure, Turkey can reinforce its position as an innovative nation, thereby increasing its global competitive edge.
This strategy will lay the foundation for future growth and a more resilient, technology-driven economy.
Source: TRT Haber