Abstract:

Many countries around the world accelerate preparations on the way to Industry 4.0 which is going to increase the competitive pressure on Turkey if the necessary measures are not taken. On the one hand, new smart machines and systems need to be imported that can not be produced in the country, and on the other hand, export volumes are going to fall if Turkey cannot produce the products and services that the digital world needs. It is estimated that by 2030, half of the global trade volumes will be using the communication of intelligent objects. It is also obvious that those countries which can not adapt to the intelligent production systems will not receive a significant share from global trade volumes. The aim of this study is to examine the potential impact of Industry 4.0 on Turkish manufacturing industry and foreign trade balance. In the light of the survey results of TÜSİAD-BCG (2017) and TÜBITAK (2016), potential contributions of Industry 4.0 to Turkey's foreign trade structure and balance sheet will be examined.

Keywords: