Export incentives are comprehensive support packages provided by the government to enable manufacturers and exporters operating in Turkey to participate more effectively in foreign markets. In today’s world, where global competition is rapidly increasing, it is not enough for companies to produce only quality products; it is also crucial that they are able to present these products to the right markets and minimize the costs they may encounter during this process. At this point, government supports come into play, offering the financial and operational conveniences that companies need across a wide spectrum—from promotional activities and trade fair participation to office rentals and trademark registration. In this article, we will thoroughly examine how exporters in Turkey can benefit from these incentives, the requirements they must meet, the key steps to pay attention to during the application process, and the most common mistakes made. We will also clarify the documents required during the application processes and explain which types of incentives are suitable for whom, making every stage of the process more transparent and understandable. With this guide, you can steer your export journey with confidence and make the most of the opportunities provided by the government.
What Are Export Incentives?
Export incentives are strategic government supports provided to make Turkey’s economy more competitive at the international level. Thanks to these incentives, especially SMEs and companies in the growth phase can access foreign markets more easily and manage high-cost processes such as promotion, trade fair participation, marketing, and brand development in a more sustainable way. The most common incentive programs offered under government supports include Overseas Market Research Support, Brand and Promotion Support, Overseas Trade Fair Participation Support, Turquality and Brand Programs, and Overseas Unit and Office Support. The main purpose of these supports is to increase the recognition and sales volume of exporting companies in global markets, while also encouraging the inflow of foreign currency into the country. Each of these programs provides support for different cost items and significantly contributes to companies’ globalization processes.
Who Can Benefit from Government Incentives?
Government supports offered by the Republic of Turkey are intended for businesses that meet certain criteria. To benefit from these incentives, a company must be officially registered in Turkey and actively engaged in export activities. In addition, according to the sector to which the applicant belongs, membership in the relevant exporters’ association is required. Companies wishing to benefit from government incentives are also expected to have no outstanding tax debts or must have restructured any existing debts. Fulfilling such obligations before applying plays a major role in the positive outcome of the application. These supports offer significant advantages especially for newly established exporters, micro-enterprises, and businesses with growth potential; however, the nature and scope of the incentives may vary according to the area of activity of the companies. Therefore, each company should identify the types of support best suited to its needs in order to make the most of export incentives.
How Does the Application Process Work?
Application processes consist of steps that must be carried out systematically and meticulously. Companies wishing to benefit from incentives must first identify the support program that best suits their activities. At this stage, the conditions, scope, and available limits of the incentive should be examined in detail, and all necessary documents should be prepared completely. After the preparation phase, applications can be submitted through the relevant exporters’ association, the Ministry of Trade, or digitally via the e-Government (e-Devlet) portal. Applications are thoroughly reviewed and evaluated by the relevant institutions. If the evaluation process results positively, the incentive payment is made directly to the applicant or the relevant organization. Situations such as document inconsistency or expiration may result in the rejection of the application. Therefore, receiving assistance from consultancy firms specialized in government supports can help speed up the process. In addition, it is very important to regularly follow announcements via the e-Government portal for any updates to the system or new application requirements.
Required Documents by Incentive Type
Each export incentive program has its own unique application requirements and document specifications. For example, when applying for trade fair participation support, official documents confirming the event, invoices for participation fees, and bank receipts for payments are required. For brand and promotion support applications, trademark registration certificates, expenditure documents for advertising campaigns, and reports detailing the relevant marketing activities are requested. In the case of overseas unit support, financial and operational documents such as office rental contracts, expense invoices, and employee payrolls are necessary. Each of these documents is thoroughly reviewed to confirm their compliance with the objective of the incentive program. Missing or incorrect documents may cause application processes to be delayed or directly rejected. Therefore, it is recommended that companies obtain the up-to-date document list specific to the relevant type of incentive from the official website of the Ministry of Trade or the relevant association.
Common Mistakes and Reasons for Rejection
Application processes consist of steps that must be carried out systematically and meticulously. Companies wishing to benefit from incentives must first identify the support program that best suits their activities. At this stage, the conditions, scope, and available limits of the incentive should be examined in detail, and all necessary documents should be prepared completely. After the preparation phase, applications can be submitted through the relevant exporters’ association, the Ministry of Trade, or digitally via the e-Government (e-Devlet) portal. Applications are thoroughly reviewed and evaluated by the relevant institutions. If the evaluation process results positively, the incentive payment is made directly to the applicant or the relevant organization. Situations such as document inconsistency or expiration may result in the rejection of the application. Therefore, receiving assistance from consultancy firms specialized in government supports can help speed up the process. In addition, it is very important to regularly follow announcements via the e-Government portal for any updates to the system or new application requirements.
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