Erdoğan Announces Expansion of İŞKUR Youth Program to 150,000 Places

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a series of statements following the Cabinet Meeting, addressing youth employment, urban transformation, investigations into fund companies, and regional security developments. Erdoğan announced that the capacity of the İŞKUR Youth Program would be increased to 150,000 places for the 2026–2027 academic year. University students participating in the program will receive daily payments of TRY 1,375, while those attending for 14 days per month may receive up to TRY 19,250. Their insurance premiums will also be covered by the state.

İŞKUR Youth Program Capacity to Increase to 150,000

President Erdoğan said the government attaches great importance to helping young people gain work experience while continuing their education, develop professional skills, and prepare for their future careers.

Noting the strong interest in the İŞKUR Youth Program, launched last year, Erdoğan stated that the number of young people who have benefited from the initiative is approaching 220,000.

The government plans to expand the program in the new academic year, increasing its capacity to 150,000 places for 2026–2027.

University students participating in the program will receive TRY 1,375 per day. Those attending for 14 days per month will be eligible for payments of up to TRY 19,250. The state will also cover their insurance premiums.

Erdoğan added that eligible students would receive a TRY 1,250 promotional payment and access to special discounts on various purchases and expenses.

Under the Youth Production Era initiative, known by its Turkish acronym GÜÇ, the government aims to reach 3 million young people within three years. The target for the İŞKUR Youth Program is to enable 1 million university students to benefit from the initiative by the end of 2028.

Erdoğan said the government would continue increasing its support for young people’s education, employment, and future, adding that young people should not be left vulnerable to the ambitions of political actors or other groups.

Erdoğan Offers Condolences to Victims of Manisa Traffic Accident

At the beginning of his address, President Erdoğan referred to the serious traffic accident in Akhisar, Manisa.

He expressed his condolences to the families of the 11 people who lost their lives and reported that 13 of the 26 injured people had been discharged from hospital. The remaining 13 were continuing to receive treatment, including two patients in intensive care.

Erdoğan wished the injured a speedy recovery and expressed his hope that the country would not experience similar tragedies again.

Şanlıurfa City Hospital Opens

Erdoğan recalled his visit to Şanlıurfa on October 3, when he attended the TEKNOFEST Southeastern Anatolia event and inaugurated Şanlıurfa City Hospital.

The hospital, whose investment value was announced as TRY 39 billion, has 500,000 square metres of indoor space and a capacity of 2,000 beds. It also includes 451 outpatient examination rooms, six operating theatres, and other medical facilities.

Referring to the technology festival, Erdoğan praised the enthusiasm of young people working in science and technology. He said Türkiye’s future would be shaped by young people who research, innovate, produce, and develop domestic technologies.

Türkiye Advances Its Lunar Research Programme

President Erdoğan also discussed the 77th International Astronautical Congress, held in Antalya, noting that experts from 111 countries attended the event.

He said Türkiye was working to strengthen its presence in space and develop its own technologies.

According to Erdoğan, the production, assembly, and integration stages of the spacecraft developed under Türkiye’s Lunar Research Programme had been completed. The 3.5-tonne spacecraft, which has a domestic content rate exceeding 80%, is currently undergoing system-level environmental testing.

Çerkezköy–Kapıkule Section of High-Speed Rail Line Completed

Erdoğan announced the completion and opening of the 153-kilometre Çerkezköy–Kapıkule section of the Halkalı–Kapıkule High-Speed Rail Line.

The entire railway project is 229 kilometres long. Once all sections are completed, the journey between Halkalı and Kapıkule is expected to be reduced from four hours to 30 minutes.

According to the targets outlined by Erdoğan, freight transportation time will fall from 8.5 hours to 3.5 hours. Annual passenger capacity is expected to increase from 600,000 to 3 million, while freight capacity will rise from 1.5 million tonnes to 9.5 million tonnes.

“Delaying Istanbul’s Earthquake Preparedness Would Be a Betrayal”

President Erdoğan highlighted the importance of urban transformation following the collapse of a building in Istanbul’s Maltepe district, in which five people lost their lives.

He said Istanbul’s earthquake risk could not be postponed or ignored and argued that urban transformation should not become a casualty of daily political disputes. Criticising opposition to the renewal of existing buildings, Erdoğan stated that the government was determined to accelerate its urban transformation campaign.

Since 2012, 1,298,000 independent housing and commercial units in Istanbul have been included in urban transformation projects, Erdoğan said. Of these, the transformation of 1,007,000 units has been completed, while work on another 291,000 units is continuing.

He added that approximately 5 million people had been moved into safer homes through these efforts.

“Half Is on Us” Campaign Extended Until the End of 2027

Erdoğan announced that the deadline for the “Half Is on Us” urban transformation campaign had been extended to December 31, 2027. According to his statement, 544,564 independent units had been included in the campaign so far.

The announced support package for homeowners includes:

• TRY 875,000 in grants
• TRY 875,000 in loans
• TRY 125,000 in relocation assistance

For business premises, the government offers grants of TRY 437,500, loans of TRY 437,500, and relocation assistance of TRY 125,000.

Erdoğan urged Istanbul residents not to delay the necessary steps for urban transformation and called on municipalities, regardless of political affiliation, to prioritise projects aimed at improving building safety.

Türkiye–Saudi Arabia Defence Cooperation on the Agenda

President Erdoğan said regional tensions and conflicts continued to intensify, emphasising that Türkiye supported resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy.

Referring to developments involving Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran, he stressed the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries in the region.

Erdoğan condemned the October 10 attack targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which he attributed to the Houthis. He stated that 12 people had been killed and 309 injured, expressing condolences to the victims’ families and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

He also announced that work was continuing to establish the institutional framework for the joint defence agreement signed by Türkiye, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia on August 7.

According to Erdoğan, the cooperation is being developed along two main lines: collective defence and regional cooperation, and the creation of a permanent institutional structure.

Preparations are underway to submit the agreement to the Turkish Grand National Assembly as part of the domestic approval process. Erdoğan said Türkiye would continue advocating regional peace and stability.

Legal Action Taken Against 282 People in Fund Company Investigation

Erdoğan identified developments concerning fund companies as another major issue discussed at the Cabinet Meeting, stating that efforts were underway to resolve the matter swiftly and comprehensively.

He referred to several steps taken since the previous Cabinet Meeting, including the appointment of the State Supervisory Council, the establishment of the Fund Coordination Board, informing Parliament, and preparing legislative amendments.

Erdoğan also said the transfer process involving Katılımevim, Birevim, and İktisat Katılım Bankası to Emlak Katılım had begun. Payments had also started for funds whose procedures through the Central Registry Agency had been completed.

According to Erdoğan, legal action has been taken against 282 people, including members of fund companies’ boards of directors.

He provided the following figures:

• 84 people have been arrested.
• Arrest warrants have been issued for 27 suspects.
• Judicial control measures have been imposed on 99 people.

Erdoğan stated that payments of up to TRY 1 million in principal were planned to begin during October, subject to Parliament passing the relevant legislation.

He added that, following the completion of ordinary and extraordinary liquidation procedures during October, a significant proportion of investors were expected to receive interim payments.

The Fund Coordination Board will continue providing regular updates to the public, Erdoğan said.

New Regulations Planned for Capital Markets

President Erdoğan announced that additional regulations would be introduced to strengthen capital markets and reduce the risk of similar problems recurring.

He said protecting investors’ rights remained a priority and that anyone found to have obtained unlawful gains would face legal consequences.

Erdoğan also addressed the distinction between criticism and defamation, stating that no public official, including the president, should be exempt from criticism. However, he argued that freedom of expression did not provide the right to make false accusations or damage another person’s reputation.

He called on those claiming to hold others accountable on behalf of the public to act responsibly and avoid attacks on individuals’ honour and reputation.

Türkiye Received 294 People Through Extradition in the First Nine Months of 2026

Referring to the International Justice Summit held in Istanbul, Erdoğan said combating crime increasingly required international cooperation.

He announced that 294 people had been extradited to Türkiye during the first nine months of 2026. A further 736 people had been brought back to the country through different search and law-enforcement procedures.

Erdoğan said efforts to bring people accused of crimes before the law would continue, regardless of where they were hiding.

New Academic Year and Higher Education Awards

Erdoğan recalled that the opening ceremony for the 2026–2027 academic year had taken place at the Presidential Complex on October 6.

During the same event, the 2026 Council of Higher Education Excellence Awards were presented to their recipients. Erdoğan wished students, academics, and the wider higher education community a successful academic year.

He also noted that he had met members of the İlim Yayma Cemiyeti on October 10, as the organisation marked its 75th anniversary.

Praising its work in education and civil society, Erdoğan emphasised the importance of raising young people who are knowledgeable, conscious of their values, and committed to their country’s future.

At the conclusion of his remarks, Erdoğan said the government would continue working across a range of areas, including youth employment, urban transformation, investor protection, and regional security.