Türkiye Sets $15B Trade Goal With South Korea, Signs US Moon Rules While Rovers Ride Chinese Rocket

Türkiye Sets $15B Trade Goal With South Korea, Signs US Moon Rules While Rovers Ride Chinese Rocket

Türkiye is deepening ties with South Korea on nuclear energy and trade while pursuing a dual-track space strategy that pairs US lunar rules with Chinese launch plans, alongside a $1 billion push to build 13 unicorn startups.

· 2 min read ·
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Türkiye is pursuing a broad economic and technological agenda that spans nuclear energy cooperation with South Korea, a $15 billion bilateral trade target, a $1 billion venture capital push to create 13 unicorn startups by 2027, and a space program that pairs US-led lunar rules with a Chinese mission for its first moon rovers.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Türkiye is evaluating South Korea's possible role in the planned Sinop nuclear power plant and set a $15 billion target for bilateral trade between the two countries [1]. The remarks signal Ankara's push for stronger partnerships with Seoul in energy, technology, and logistics, with the Sinop plant a key part of Türkiye's nuclear energy plans [1]. South Korea has not yet confirmed any commitment to the project [1].

Separately, Turkey has signed the US-led Artemis Accords, a set of rules for moon exploration, yet its first trip to the lunar south pole will likely rely on China [3]. A team of more than 120 students and professors at Middle East Technical University in Ankara has built prototypes of two AI-powered rovers designed for Chang'e-8, a Chinese mission planned for 2028 [3]. Turkey is not a member of the International Lunar Research Station, a base China plans to build on the moon and a rival project to the US Artemis program, as Washington and Beijing race to reach the lunar south pole, a region believed to hold ice [3].

On the technology front, Türkiye wants to build 13 billion-dollar tech startups and attract $1 billion in venture capital by 2027 [6]. The country's new strategy aims to double its annual investment volume and centers on two key initiatives: a Tech Visa program to bring in foreign talent and new funding calls to support local startups [6].

Sources

Türkiye Courts South Korea for Nuclear Plant, $15B Trade Goal #276966Turkey Signs US Moon Rules, But Its Rovers May Fly With China #277306Türkiye Sets Sights on 13 Unicorn Startups in $1B Venture Capital Push #276964

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