New Delhi, Aug 17: India and Turkey could create stronger manufacturing partnerships by combining their industrial strengths and sharing production networks instead of competing to build entire factories on their own, according to a recent report.
Pic Credit: Pexel
The idea comes as both countries look to strengthen their positions in global supply chains. While India-Turkey trade has grown, deeper industrial cooperation remains relatively limited. A closer partnership could move the relationship beyond buying and selling goods towards joint manufacturing, technology sharing and long-term business cooperation.
India has an advantage in large-scale manufacturing, electronics production and access to a vast domestic market. Turkey, meanwhile, has an established industrial and engineering base as well as strong connections with European markets. Bringing these strengths together could help companies in both countries build products more efficiently and compete internationally.
The automotive and electronics industries offer a clear opportunity. Companies could divide production according to their capabilities, with Turkish firms contributing areas such as component housings, thermal-management systems and testing equipment, while Indian manufacturers focus on sensors, circuit boards and other electronic components.
Similar cooperation could also emerge in railways and renewable energy. India’s growing railway manufacturing capabilities could complement Turkey’s expertise in control systems and maintenance equipment. In clean energy, companies from both countries could explore joint production of inverters, battery-management systems and specialised wind-energy components.
The approach could benefit both sides by reducing duplication and creating larger, more dependable supply chains. Instead of each country investing separately in every stage of production, businesses could specialise in specific components and connect them through cross-border supply networks.
For this to work smoothly, governments will need to make cross-border business easier. Common or mutually recognised testing and certification standards could reduce delays, while clear rules on intellectual property and re-exported components could give companies greater confidence to invest.
Financing will also be important. Support for tooling, engineering partnerships and working capital could help smaller manufacturers become part of international supply chains and allow successful partnerships to expand.
The report suggests that the success of India-Turkey industrial cooperation should not be judged only by the number of new factories announced. More meaningful indicators would include repeat business orders, jointly developed products, shared engineering work and the growth of cross-border component trade.
For businesses, the biggest opportunity lies in building relationships that continue beyond a single contract. Repeated cooperation can improve quality, reduce costs, strengthen trust and encourage companies to develop new products together.
India and Turkey may have different industrial strengths, but those differences could become the foundation of a stronger partnership. By sharing expertise and dividing production intelligently, the two countries can build supply chains that are more competitive and better prepared for global disruptions.
