Fintech
Turkish fintech startups absorb $166 million in investments
ANKARA
Turkish fintech startups received investments worth a total of $166 million in the first five months of 2024, according to a Finance Bureau report.
Around 10 deals were concluded between January and May, the Fintech Snapshot report says.
A total of 845 fintech startups participated Türkiye in May and 696 of them were operational.
The number of fintech companies was 594 in 2019, rising to 843 in 2023. In the first five months of 2024, two new fintech companies were launched.
Only one deal worth $1 million was made in the January-May period, while there were six fintech exits worth $109 million.
There have been approximately five acquisitions by fintech companies for a total of $52 million.
The majority of fintech companies operate in the payments sector with 273, followed by banking technologies with 111, and cryptocurrencies and blockchain with 101.
According to the report, there were 57 and 56 fintech companies operating in the insurance and financial sectors respectively as of May.
Türkiye’s share in global FDI inflows
Meanwhile, a report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) showed that Turkey’s share in global foreign direct investment fell from 1% in 2022 to 0.8% last year.
FDI inflows into the country totaled $10.4 billion in 2023, down from $13.45 billion a year ago. According to the report, foreign direct investment outflows increased from $4.7 billion in 2022 to $5.77 billion last year.
Turkey’s inward FDI stock was $156.5 billion in 2023, down from $202.5 billion in 2022, while its outward FDI stock increased from $54.08 billion dollars to 60 billion dollars.
The UNCTAD report states that in Central and Western Asia, Turkey has attracted the largest share of manufacturing projects.
The number of international project financing deals in developing Asia fell by 25%, the report said, adding that Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates recorded a higher number of deals.
According to the report, global foreign direct investment declined marginally by 2% to $1.3 trillion in 2023.
The global environment for international investment remains challenging in 2024, UNCTAD said.
“Weakening growth prospects, trends in economic fracturing, trade and geopolitical tensions, industrial policies and supply chain diversification are reshaping FDI patterns, leading some multinational enterprises (MNEs) to adopt a cautious approach towards expansion abroad,” he explained.
However, multinational profit levels remain high, financing conditions are easing, and the increase in greenfield project announcements in 2023 will have a positive effect on foreign direct investment.