Leading representatives of the insurance sector gathered at Sigorta İzmir to discuss the future of insurance, addressing a wide range of topics from digitalization to artificial intelligence.
Sigorta İzmir – Insurance Stakeholders Cooperation Fair and Summit opened its doors at Fuar İzmir on June 11, 2026. The event, which will continue until June 13, brings together leading representatives of the industry, including insurance companies, loss adjusters, agencies, brokers, assistance firms, and public institutions. Through panels and sessions held over three days, participants are discussing key issues that will shape the current agenda and future of the insurance sector.
Organized under the auspices of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade and the Insurance and Private Pension Regulation and Supervision Agency (SEDDK), the fair is supported by the sector’s long-established institutions. Full support is provided by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), the Insurance Association of Türkiye (TSB), the Executive Committee of Insurance Agencies (SAİK), the Executive Committee of Insurance Loss Adjusters (SEİK), the İzmir Chamber of Commerce (İZTO), and the Aegean Region Chamber of Industry (EBSO). Hosted by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and organized by İZFAŞ, the event is held in partnership with IUC Events.
The first panel organized within the scope of Sigorta İzmir focused on the current dynamics of the insurance industry and its strategic roadmap for the future under the title “Insurance Sector, Current Issues and Future Strategies.” Bringing together leading representatives of the sector, the panel shed light on the industry’s transformation process while emphasizing the importance of cooperation among public institutions, the private sector, and professional organizations. Speakers included Ender Yorgancılar, Vice Chairman of the TOBB Board of Directors and Chairman of the EBSO Board; Ali Burak Kurtulan, Acting Vice President of SEDDK; Ahmet Yaşar, President of TSB; Levent Korkut, Chairman of TOBB SAİK; and Ahmet Nedim Erdem, Chairman of TOBB SEİK. The session was moderated by journalist Birant Yıldız.
“İzmir Holds a Strategic Position for the Insurance Sector”
Ender Yorgancılar, Vice Chairman of the TOBB Board of Directors and Chairman of the EBSO Board, stated:
“I consider organizations such as the Sigorta İzmir Fair extremely valuable. With its strong industrial infrastructure, production capacity, and trade volume, İzmir holds a strategic position for the insurance sector. Such fairs strengthen the ties between industry and insurance while also providing an opportunity to jointly evaluate the sector’s current challenges and possible solutions.”
Yorgancılar noted that obtaining coverage can sometimes be more difficult in high-risk sectors such as chemicals, wood, and plastics. He added:
“As industrialists, we are increasingly placing our assets under insurance protection to ensure continuity in production. At this point, it is crucial that insurance activities are carried out by qualified professionals. Considering İzmir’s production strength and industrial diversity, I believe the insurance sector will continue to grow in this city. I also believe that the Sigorta İzmir Fair serves as an important platform contributing to this development.”
Information on New Regulations
Ali Burak Kurtulan, Acting Vice President of SEDDK, highlighted new regulations concerning participation insurance and the pension system:
“Through structural changes in this field, we aim to pave the way for new investment opportunities. The Istanbul Financial Center will be one of the key hubs of this transformation. It is essential that regulatory authorities and sector stakeholders work in harmony. Insurance companies also have significant responsibilities in increasing public trust in the insurance system.”
Drawing Attention to Low Insurance Penetration
TSB President Ahmet Yaşar emphasized the need to increase insurance penetration in Türkiye:
“There is significant potential in the field of home insurance. Although approximately 43 percent of homes with electricity subscriptions are active, the insurance coverage rate remains around 25 percent. It is extremely important that such data be shared and analyzed accurately. Similarly, insurance penetration among SMEs stands at around 20 percent. As a sector, we must identify our shortcomings correctly and take the necessary steps to close these gaps.”
Yaşar added:
“Raising insurance awareness is a fundamental factor not only for our sector but also for the economic resilience of our country.”
Emphasizing the Role of Insurance Agencies
Levent Korkut, Chairman of TOBB SAİK, underlined the importance of agencies within the insurance sector:
“Insurance agencies need to be placed in a stronger and more prioritized position in insurance sales. Agencies are among the most important sales channels in the sector. Strengthening this structure will contribute both to the growth of the industry and to the creation of a sustainable model that benefits all stakeholders. Supporting the agency system will not only increase sales volume but also accelerate the spread of insurance awareness throughout society.”
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Insurance
Ahmet Nedim Erdem, Chairman of TOBB SEİK, discussed the impact of artificial intelligence technologies on the insurance sector:
“Artificial intelligence offers significant benefits to the insurance industry, but it also introduces new risks. Fake claim documents and manipulated images, in particular, represent major risk areas. We can minimize these risks through AI-supported image processing technologies. It is not enough merely to collect big data; it must also be compared and analyzed correctly. In addition, strengthening auditing mechanisms and increasing on-site inspections are of great importance. The role of the loss adjuster in the field should be enhanced through technological support tools.”
Digitalization in the Insurance Sector
The keynote speaker on the first day was Prof. Dr. Erdem Kırkbeşoğlu, Vice Rector of Başkent University. Known for his academic work in the field of insurance, Prof. Dr. Kırkbeşoğlu addressed the sector’s technological transformation in his presentation titled “Digitalization in the Insurance Sector.”
Stating that digital transformation represents a new era in the development of the insurance industry, Kırkbeşoğlu noted that insurance practices are evolving from experience-based approaches to data-driven models. He explained that, thanks to big data and advanced analytics, risks can now be assessed far more accurately. He further stated that numerous parameters—such as age, gender, profession, place of residence, and vehicle characteristics—can be analyzed simultaneously, enabling much more precise pricing.
