THE Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ICOC) brings major companies together with subcontractors through “Supplier Days.” These events, organized by the Subcontract Exchange under ICOC, enable local and foreign companies to establish supply and procurement partnerships with Turkish firms.

The Subcontract Exchange was established in 1990 under the auspices of ICOC and with the support of UNIDO. For 36 years, it has been connecting its members with local and international partners. Many companies from Türkiye and abroad participate in the Supplier Days organized by the Exchange. Global giants source their procurement needs from Exchange members, while subcontractors manufacture customized products for major companies and develop cooperation opportunities for third-country markets.

30 MAJOR COMPANIES EVERY YEAR 

ASELSAN, HAVELSAN, TUSAŞ, ROKETSAN, MKE, Schaeffler, Rolls-Royce, Arçelik, Türk Traktör, Siemens, Hitachi, Bosch, and Emerson are among the most prominent participants of the Supplier Days. On average, the Exchange brings together 30 major industrial companies with subcontractors in Istanbul each year. Through these events, Turkish subcontractors meet key local and international players and gain opportunities to sign supply contracts.

PREDOMINANTLY EUROPE-FOCUSED

Sixty percent of the requests received by the Subcontract Exchange come from abroad. Ninety-one percent of Exchange members are exporters. Forty-eight percent of their production is exported to European countries, while the Middle East ranks as the second-largest market with a share of 33 percent.

SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR GLOBAL MARKETS

The Subcontract Exchange provides technical support and consultancy services to markets including China, Ghana, Qatar, Iran, Kenya, and Cameroon. It also cooperates with consulates, commercial counselors, international chambers of commerce, foreign trade development offices, Türkiye’s overseas representations, and business associations in other countries.

KEY PLAYERS IN THE DEFENCE INDUSTRY 

By developing indigenous defence products, Türkiye has recently succeeded in meeting its domestic defence needs with local solutions while also becoming a defence industry exporter. Companies integrating advanced technology into the defence sector elevate their suppliers into technology developers. The most recent Supplier Day organized by the ICOC Subcontract Exchange focused on defence industry giants, with participation from TUSAŞ, ASELSAN, ROKETSAN, HAVELSAN, STM, and MKE.

34% increase in exchange membership 

Şekib Avdagiç, President of the Executive Board of ICOC, stated that they aim to strengthen the global competitiveness of Istanbul’s business community and said:“In 2025, we organized 22 Supplier Days, three of which were held with foreign companies. Over the past three years, we have organized 76 Supplier Days, bringing 56 major industrial companies together with our members. We increased the number of Subcontract Exchange members by 34 percent, from 2,780 to 3,717. This growth clearly demonstrates the strength of our supplier industry.”

Subcontract exchange’s matching methods

The ICOC Subcontract Exchange responds to individual bilateral meeting requests from local and foreign main contractors. It organizes Supplier Days where companies meet subcontractors face to face. A total of 3,717 subcontractors operating across Türkiye are members of the Exchange.

The Exchange evaluates requests from main contractors and identifies subcontractors capable of manufacturing the required products. After notifying Exchange members, the information of responding subcontractors is forwarded to the main contractors. Matching is carried out based on the subcontractors’ compatibility with the requests. Matched companies are then invited to ICOC for Supplier Days, where face-to-face meetings are held. The Exchange also facilitates ongoing communication between companies.

For more information: yansanayi@ito.org.tr

22 major companies met

1,218 subcontractors in 2025

In 2025, a total of 22 major industrial companies-19 domestic and 3 foreign-participated in the Supplier Days organized by the ICOC Subcontract Exchange. ICOC brought these main contractors together with 1,218 subcontractors. Twenty meetings were held face to face, while two were conducted online.

Attending companies and their countries

TÜRKİYE: Karsan, Temsa, Alarko Carrier, Anadolu Isuzu, HAVELSAN, ASELSAN, MKE,

STM, THY Technic, ROKETSAN, TUSAŞ, TCDD, Anadolu Motor, Ford Otosan, Arçelik, Alarko Carrier, Silverline, Aurora Isı, Çelik Motor, Otokar, TOFAŞ, BMC, Vestel, FNSS, Türk Traktör

GERMANY: Lear, Schaeffler, Bosch, Bomag Gmbh, Miele, Schott, Continental, Bosch Rexroth, Festo, Siemens, EagleBurgmann, Pas South, Leoni, Hydac International, Anu Global, Drimex, Halla Otomotiv, H. Costenoble, Morali Produktionstechnik Gmbh, Zf Lemförder, SMS Group, Enercon, Nordex, BSH; Sonplas 

FRANCE: Peugeot, Legrand, Alstom, Sist Endüstri, Zodiac Aerospace 

JAPAN: Hitachi, Hitachi Europe, Canon, Toyota, Hitachi Zosen Inova, Sumitomo, Aisin Otomotiv, Visteon Hitachi, Makita, Toyotetsu, Daikin

SWEDEN: Autoliv, Munters, AB Electrolux, Swedmec, Bufab 

CANADA: Gates Powertraın, Magna International  

USA: Emerson, Southwest Radiator, Deere And Company, Kottman, Lear Corporation, General Motors

POLAND: Proficool Fans, Tri Poland

THAILAND: Jes Pipelines 

DENMARK: Harman, Vestas

AUSTRIA: Aht Cooling Systems 

NETHERLANDS: Bosal Oris Gmbh 

CZECH REPUBLIC: Hemat Trade

ITALY: Vgv Srl, Ellamp, Ama Tarım Makina 

SWITZERLAND: Divisa Precision, ABB Electric

GERMANY-TÜRKİYE: Linde Opsan 

SOUTH KOREA: Hyundai Mobis, HL Mando 

NORWAY: Rolls-Royce