The effects of belt and road initiative on logistics industry in Türkiye

The Belt and Road Initiative, which was announced by the Chinese President Xi Jinpin in 2013, has been a revitalization project of the Silk Road in its modern form since ancient times. With this project, China aims to create an alternative structure to the international system in all western-centered fields, especially in the economy, social and cultural fields. Within the scope of the Belt and Road Initiative project, the Economic Belt of the land-connected Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road are evaluated together. This project is of great importance for China, as the project will increase the trade volume between China and the regional economies. Within the scope of this project, "Trade Facilitation Agreements" are made between China and the party countries, and the focus of these agreements is developing around the logistics sector. Türkiye is of critical importance in the Belt and Road Initiative project, as it has both land and sea connections. Türkiye, which has important trade and transportation corridors with its proximity to three continents and its geostrategic location, has started to take the necessary steps to obtain maximum benefit from this initiative. In this context, efforts are made to develop logistics infrastructure and make trade easy and sustainable through legal agreements. The main purpose of this study is to examine the effects of the Belt and Road project on the logistics sector in Türkiye. In this context, a qualitative research process was carried out and a broad perspective was tried to be gained through literature review and semi-structured interviews. Research findings include evaluations to draw a framework for national logistics strategies to maximize the benefit to be obtained from the project within the framework of the development goals of Türkiye, which has strategic importance in the Belt and Road Initiative.