For our ATF Singapore issue, we sit down once again with Şekib Avdagiç, President of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ICOC), to look back on 2025 and Türkiye’s expanding footprint in global content markets. We discuss the sustained momentum of Turkish dramas, and the Chamber’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the industry’s global presence, along with ICOC’s key priorities and market agenda for 2026.
The Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ICOC) has participated in numerous content markets across different regions this year. As we approach the end of 2025, how would you summarize this year overall?
In 2025, we continued implementing the policy we built together with representatives of Türkiye’s film and television industry, strengthening our presence in international content markets. We achieved this by participating in events across every continent, from the Americas to Asia.
Undoubtedly, the global success of the Turkish film, drama, content, television, and production industries has been our greatest source of motivation. We give great importance to ensuring that this sector, which is our country’s most powerful instrument of soft power, continues to reinforce Türkiye’s image worldwide. In this context, we participated in five major markets across three continents in 2025. These events, selected in line with the priorities of our industry members, included Content Americas in Miami (USA), NEM Dubrovnik in Croatia, MIPCOM Cannes in France, the Dubai International Content Market in the UAE, and finally, the ATF Asia TV Forum & Market here in Singapore. At these events, Türkiye has drawn strong attention with its distinctive, family-oriented content that audiences around the world can watch together.
Now we are here at ATF Singapore, one of the most important content markets in Asia. What are your expectations from this event?
As you know, Turkish dramas continue to attract strong global attention. We have built large and loyal audiences not only in Western European countries such as Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal, but also across Asia; in markets like Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Vietnam, and Thailand. Turkish content has an ability to resonate with both Eastern and Western audiences.
As Türkiye, we attach great importance to the Asian region. We believe there is significant potential to build on what has already been achieved. We don’t want to reach Asian audiences only through digital platforms. We also aim to have a presence on national broadcasters across the region and connect directly with their wide viewership. We believe that being at ATF Asia TV Forum & Market is one of the most effective ways to diversify our presence and strengthen our impact in the Asian market, and that’s why we’re here.
Do you have any special events or initiatives planned for ATF?
Yes, we will be organizing a significant networking event in collaboration with the General Directorate of Cinema under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye. Through this event, we aim to highlight the unique character and strong value of Türkiye’s content industry, while introducing the diverse collaboration opportunities it offers across the Asian region.
This year, you organized B2B meetings in İstanbul in collaboration with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). Could you tell us more about this event?
We place great importance on strengthening the partnership between Türkiye and Japan in the drama industry. With that goal, we once again collaborated with JETRO in 2025 to organize bilateral meetings between representatives from both countries, following the success of our first event in 2024. The main reason we decided to continue this initiative was the highly positive and productive results we achieved from the 2024 edition.
Our Japanese partners attach strong value to developing Turkish adaptations of their original contents as a way to increase the global reach and visibility of Japanese content. In the past, there were a few successful but not yet structured examples of collaboration. For instance, Mother, starring Cansu Dere, and Woman, led by Özge Özpirinçci, both achieved remarkable success. The projects carried out through cooperation between the two countries were broadcast in more than 100 countries. This clearly showed us that the strong synergy between Türkiye and Japan could be taken even further. For that reason, we are now working closely to develop new partnerships.
Asia is an extremely important market for Türkiye. As you mentioned, we also see a growing trend of drama adaptations from several Asian nations, particularly from Korea. From your perspective, how do you view the significance of the Asian market for Turkish content, and what role do events like ATF play in this regard?
First of all, I’d like to emphasize that ATF Singapore is not only one of the leading events in Asia, but also one of the most significant international gatherings in the global content industry. The fact that it is being held for the 26th time, and that we continue to take part in it, is proof of its importance. In my view, what makes this market so valuable is its comprehensive setup: it brings together conferences, networking events, and an environment that directly supports business opportunities.
Undoubtedly, one of the key reasons this market holds such importance for us is that strengthening relations with countries across Asia, the region of our ancestral homeland, is a central element of our national policy. As the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ICOC), we place great importance on being the most active contributor to the “Asia Anew Initiative” launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye in 2019. We value building closer ties with Asian nations with which we share deep historical and cultural connections, and we aim to work together based on mutual interests and a shared vision for the future.
In your opinion, what goals should be set for Turkish content exports in 2026?
ICOC’s main principle is not to focus on specific numbers, but to ensure continuous progress, to be further ahead today than we were yesterday, and to reach wider audiences tomorrow than we do today. As long as we stay committed to this goal, the figures will naturally follow, and Turkish content will continue to hold a meaningful place within our country’s overall exports. In essence, through the dramas and productions we share with the world, we aim to contribute to a happier global community. Similar to our cooperation with Japan, we also seek to develop collaborations with other countries, from Europe to the Americas, and from Asia to Africa, to further strengthen the presence and growing fan base of Turkish series worldwide.
At the same time, we want our country, uniquely positioned at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, and blessed with exceptional natural and historical riches, to become a natural filming hub for international productions. This is what we are striving to achieve.
Could you tell us about ICOC’s market agenda for 2026? Which regions and markets will you be focusing on?
We’ll continue our international market activities at full pace in 2026. We view these events as the footprints of global trade, and we consider taking part in them essential; both to expand our market reach and to strengthen international partnerships. In this regard, ICOC plans to participate in several key events, including Content Americas in Miami, NEM Dubrovnik in Croatia, MIPCOM Cannes in France, which has now become one of our signature destinations, the Dubai International Content Market in the UAE, and, as always, ATF Asia TV Forum & Market in Singapore. As the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, we attach great importance to ensuring a strong and consistent presence for Turkish companies at these strategic markets, and we make it a priority to participate in them every year.
This interview was featured in Episode Magazine’s ATF 2025 issue.
