Turkey Plans Major AI Data Center Investments
Turkey Plans Major Investments in AI Data Center Infrastructure
Turkey aims to attract large-scale investments in the construction of artificial intelligence data centers as part of its national digital transformation strategy.
Published: June 25, 2026, 13:43
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced plans to attract $10 billion in private investment for artificial intelligence and data center projects.
Strategic Goal: Becoming a Regional Data Hub
Turkey is positioning itself as a regional data processing hub amid rapidly growing demand for digital infrastructure driven by artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital services.
This initiative is part of the country’s national artificial intelligence strategy and action plan, which targets increasing installed data center capacity to at least 1 gigawatt by 2030.
Officials also plan to allocate at least 2% of public investment programs to artificial intelligence-related projects.
Government Investment and Support
Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır stated that the government will provide approximately $3 billion in public funding to help attract around $10 billion in private sector investment.
The aim is to accelerate development of AI infrastructure, cloud systems, and high-capacity data centers across Turkey.
Rising Importance of Data Centers
Authorities emphasize that data centers are becoming critical not only for digital services, but also for energy policy, industrial development, and national competitiveness.
The sector requires advanced energy systems, modern cooling technologies, cybersecurity solutions, and high-capacity network infrastructure.
Demand is further increasing due to artificial intelligence, as large-scale model training and operation require significant computing power and electricity consumption.
Major Corporate Projects
- Turkcell and Google Cloud: $3 billion hyperscale cloud region (Google $2B, Turkcell $1B)
- Vodafone Türkiye and DAMAC: new data center project in İzmir
- Vodafone: expansion of data center capacity in Ankara
- Türk Telekom: testing liquid immersion cooling technology for energy efficiency
Government Incentives (HIT-30 Program)
Turkey is supporting high-tech investments through the HIT-30 program, offering tax incentives, energy subsidies, and employment support for investors.
These incentives aim to encourage data center development not only in major cities but also in regional areas with lower operational costs.
Future Projects and Outlook
One proposed project involves converting underground carved rock storage facilities in Nevşehir into data centers, using natural cooling advantages.
The global data center market is expanding rapidly alongside the growth of artificial intelligence. Turkey believes its strategic location between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, combined with infrastructure and investment incentives, will strengthen its position in this sector.
