Turkey Eyes Expansion to PH Infrastructure Projects Beyond Agri Trade

MANILA, Phililppines — Turkey is looking to expand its economic presence in the Philippines beyond food and agricultural trade by participating in major infrastructure projects. In an interview on Monday, Turkish Ambassador Niyazi Akyol said Ankara sees opportunities under the Marcos administration’s infrastructure program, including projects under the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC). READ: 7 more countries join Luzon corridor pact “We are interested in general joining the infrastructure projects in the Philippines,” Akyol said, citing the government’s Build Better More program and the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), where Turkish contractor Gülermak is already part of a consortium building one of the railway’s sections. Turkey, home to what he described as the world’s second-largest construction sector after China, also hopes more of its construction firms will participate in future Philippine projects, including those that may be rolled out under the LEC initiative. “We will be following what tenders will be put out in the framework of the LEC and hopefully will attract Turkish companies there as well,” Akyol said. At the same time, Turkey is seeking to deepen agricultural trade between the two countries. Akyol said about 30 Turkish poultry facilities have applied for accreditation to export to the Philippines. The Department of Agriculture is expected to conduct site inspections in Turkey before year-end as part of the approval process. READ: Manila restarts talks with Turkiye to boost trade When the two countries resumed trade talks in May, the Philippines identified Turkey as a priority country for poultry inspection and committed to reviewing the antidumping duties imposed on Turkish flour exporters. On Monday, 12 Turkish food manufacturers and exporters met with Philippine counterparts in a business-to-business event led by the Mediterranean Exporters’ Association. Akyol said Turkey also wants to import more Philippine coconut products, including coconut water and coconut oil, as well as tropical fruits such as mangoes, avocados and papayas. He likewise identified seafood, including shrimp, prawns and mussels, as products with strong potential in the Turkish market. For his part, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president Ferdinand Ferrer said Turkey could also serve as a gateway for Philippine exporters seeking access to neighboring markets, with halal-certified food products seen as among the biggest opportunities. Ferrer added that the PCCI is working with the Departments of Trade and Industry and Department of Science and Technology on measures to help exporters obtain halal certification. Trade between the Philippines and Turkey reached $441 million in 2025, up 11.6 percent from a year earlier. Despite growing economic ties, Akyol said there were no immediate plans to launch negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries. “There is no official launch of any FTA presently,” he said. “FTAs are very complicated to begin, to negotiate and then to conclude … But that will be one of the items [that will be discussed] when the [joint economic] commission meets.” INQ