The 19th Verona Eurasian Economic Forum took place on 22–23 October 2026 at Çırağan Palace in Istanbul. The main results of the Verona Eurasian Economic Forum 2026 for business are not signed contracts but signals: Türkiye laid out its energy investment calendar, Russian and Eurasian financial officials described how regional capital markets are being linked, and speakers from Russia, Europe and the United States set out sharply different views on how the war in Ukraine might end.
That distinction matters. As of 26 October 2026, neither the organiser’s website nor post-event reporting mentions a joint final declaration, a list of signed agreements or a total figure for investment commitments. Targets announced from the stage should therefore be read as policy intentions and timelines, not as binding decisions taken at the forum.
Ahead of the forum we wrote about the Russian companies presenting their products in Istanbul (in Russian). This article sums up what came out of the two days.
In brief
- Türkiye plans its first offshore wind tenders in the first half of 2027 and aims to allocate 2 GW of new renewable capacity a year through its YEKA programme.
- The first reactor of the Akkuyu nuclear plant is expected to be commissioned in the coming months; Türkiye targets 20 GW of nuclear capacity by 2050.
- Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek confirmed the current course: data-dependent tight monetary policy, rebuilding fiscal buffers and a faster green transition.
- Eurasian financial integration was discussed in detail, but no new joint payment or settlement mechanism involving Türkiye was announced.
- On Ukraine, the forum produced an open exchange of positions, not a common peace plan.
What was the Verona Eurasian Economic Forum 2026?
It is an annual international platform for dialogue between countries with different political and economic systems, held since 2008. This year’s edition, the 19th, was titled “Challenges of a Changing World and a Changing Economy” and was held in Istanbul rather than in Verona.
The forum was organised by the Italian association Conoscere Eurasia with the support of MÜSİAD (the Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association of Türkiye) and Ibn Haldun University. Political, diplomatic, academic and business representatives from more than 30 countries took part. Partner logos on the organiser’s website include Rosatom, Gazprom, Novatek and the Turkish group Cengiz.
What are the main results of the forum?
The short answer: energy and investment plans of Türkiye, a debate on Eurasian financial integration and a continuing Russia–West dialogue. None of these points was turned into a signed document at the forum itself.
| Topic | What was said | Nature of the result |
|---|---|---|
| Renewable energy in Türkiye | First offshore wind tenders planned for the first half of 2027; YEKA programme to allocate 2 GW of new capacity a year | Tender and investment timeline, not a contract |
| Nuclear energy | Akkuyu’s first reactor to be commissioned with Rosatom in the coming months; 20 GW nuclear target by 2050 | Update on ongoing projects and long-term targets |
| Economic policy | Tight, data-dependent monetary policy; rebuilding fiscal buffers; green transition to cut energy imports | Confirmation of the current course |
| Eurasian financial integration | Cross-border market access, links between exchanges and depositories, national currencies, common compliance standards | Presentation of existing initiatives; no new mechanism announced |
| Russia, Europe and Ukraine | Calls to keep dialogue open; disagreement on whether a ceasefire or a lasting settlement comes first | Exchange of views; no joint plan |
What energy investments did Türkiye announce?
Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar presented a timeline rather than new deals: the first offshore wind tenders in the first half of 2027 and 2 GW of new renewable capacity allocated every year under YEKA (Yenilenebilir Enerji Kaynak Alanları, Renewable Energy Resource Areas).
Why Türkiye is investing in energy
According to the minister, Türkiye imports almost 70% of its energy needs, so reducing this dependence is treated as both an economic and a national security priority. Renewables already account for more than 62% of installed electricity generation capacity, and combined wind and solar capacity has passed 43 GW.
Grids and cross-border electricity trade
Bayraktar said Türkiye will need significant investment in its electricity networks to integrate more renewable capacity, make the grid more resilient and expand cross-border electricity trade. He also positioned Türkiye as a link between energy-producing and energy-consuming regions.
Akkuyu and the 20 GW nuclear target
Work with Russia’s Rosatom continues to commission the first reactor at Akkuyu in the coming months. Once all four units are running, the 4.8 GW plant is expected to cover about 10% of Türkiye’s electricity demand. The long-term goal is 20 GW of nuclear capacity by 2050, including conventional reactors and small modular reactors.
COP31 in Antalya
Türkiye hosts the COP31 UN climate conference in Antalya in November 2026. Bayraktar said the Turkish presidency will focus on implementation, turning commitments into investment and technology deployment, and will promote a voluntary “35 by 35” pledge to raise electricity’s share of global final energy consumption to 35% by 2035.
What did Mehmet Şimşek say about the Turkish economy?
Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek confirmed that the current policy line stays: a data-dependent restrictive monetary policy, rebuilding fiscal buffers and accelerating the green transition to reduce dependence on imported primary energy.
He described the global environment as volatile and uncertain, citing conflicts, supply chain disruptions and rising commodity prices, and said Türkiye’s answer is macro-financial stability and greater resilience to external shocks. For investors, the message is continuity: no change of course was signalled.
Was a new Eurasian payment or finance mechanism agreed?
No. The panel on Eurasian financial markets discussed how regional capital markets could be connected, but no new joint mechanism was announced, and nothing specific for Türkiye.
Russian Deputy Finance Minister Ivan Chebeskov said the Eurasian Economic Union has already started introducing mechanisms for cross-border access for investors and issuers, and that a mechanism for professional market participants is nearly complete. Within BRICS, pilots involving the Moscow Exchange and Russia’s National Settlement Depository are testing links between capital markets of interested member countries. He expects national currencies to play a growing role.
Moscow Exchange Chairman Viktor Zhidkov and Gazprom representative Ignat Dirks described Russian companies’ shift to domestic financing: according to Dirks, the share of foreign markets in Gazprom’s financing portfolio fell from 77% in 2022 to 13% by mid-2026. Gazprombank Deputy Chair Elena Borisenko stressed common standards and compliance rules as the basis of financial compatibility across Eurasia.
Türkiye is not a member of the Eurasian Economic Union or BRICS, so these initiatives do not automatically change how payments with Turkish banks work.
Did the forum reach a political consensus on Ukraine?
No. The forum worked as a platform where the sides stated their positions directly, not as a summit that agreed on a solution.
- Kirill Dmitriev, special representative of the Russian President and CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, argued for a permanent settlement and a stable European security architecture rather than temporary ceasefires.
- Thomas Graham of the Council on Foreign Relations said lasting peace cannot come from a single agreement: first principles and parameters, then a ceasefire, then detailed negotiations.
- Former European Commission President and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said a settlement that excludes Europe cannot last.
- Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, chairman of the İlim Yayma Foundation, called for dialogue channels to stay open and for regional actors to take more responsibility for their own security.
What do the results mean for foreign companies in Türkiye?
The most concrete business agenda is in energy: grids, renewables, offshore wind, nuclear and cross-border electricity trade. Without project values, contractors, financing packages or contracts, however, these cannot be counted as confirmed business volume.
Energy and infrastructure
Equipment suppliers, EPC contractors, engineering firms and investors in renewables should follow the YEKA tender calendar and the preparation of the first offshore wind tenders for 2027. Grid modernisation is a separate opportunity, but no specific projects or budgets were named at the forum.
Finance and payments
Payment and settlement infrastructure, mutual capital market access, trade finance and common compliance standards were on the agenda. For companies trading between Türkiye and Eurasian markets, nothing changes yet in practice: no new payment system or banking agreement for Türkiye was announced, so current bank and compliance arrangements remain the reference point.
Macroeconomics
Şimşek’s statements confirm that tight monetary policy continues. For budgeting in Turkish lira and planning financing costs, companies should assume the current approach stays in place.
What the forum does not mean
- Announced targets are not tenders that have already been launched.
- Discussing financial integration is not the same as a working payment channel.
- Dialogue between Russia, Europe and the US is not a peace agreement or a change in sanctions.
Frequently asked questions
Where and when was the Verona Eurasian Economic Forum 2026 held?
On 22–23 October 2026 at Çırağan Palace in Istanbul.
Were any agreements signed at the forum?
As of 26 October 2026, no list of signed agreements or total investment commitments has been published.
When will Türkiye hold its first offshore wind tenders?
According to Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, in the first half of 2027.
When will Akkuyu start operating?
The first reactor is expected to be commissioned in the coming months; an exact date was not given.
Was a new payment system for trade with Türkiye announced?
No. Payment infrastructure and national currencies were discussed in general terms only.
Source
- Anadolu Agency: Energy, financial connectivity take center stage at Verona Eurasian Economic Forum
- Anadolu Agency: 19th Verona Eurasian Economic Forum: multipolarity, Europe and peace in focus
- Verona Eurasian Economic Forum, official website
This article is for information only and reflects publicly available reports as of 26 October 2026. Statements and targets announced at the forum are not binding decisions; analysis is separated from facts.