Create a strategic bridge between the fintech ecosystems of Spain and Turkey, strengthen the b2b (business-to-business) business fabric, and identify real businesses were the main objectives of the Fintech Bridge: Spain & Türkiye 2026 event, held on Monday at the Chamber of Commerce of Madrid.
During the event, experts from both countries also analyzed the necessary regulations to make the sector operate in an agile and secure manner —for both companies and end consumers— as well as discussing the feasibility of making joint investments and fostering collaboration between technology companies and banking entities from both countries.
At a time of accelerated digital transformation, both delegations agreed that both Spain and Turkey have strategically positioned themselves in the fintech sector, which offers opportunities for bilateral cooperation thanks to a dynamic business fabric and deep know-how. The president of the Turkish Government’s Investment and Finance Office, Burak Dağlıoğlu, precisely recalled the strength of this bond: “Spain and Turkey are very close countries with excellent relations in politics, culture, and tourism, but especially in the business field”.
One of the key points of the forum was the analysis of the regulatory trends in both countries. In the first panel, moderated by the co-chair of AI Türkiye, Altan Çakır, the challenges posed by digitalization to financial entities were debated. The CEO of BBVA, Onur Genç; the head of Technological Risk at the Bank of Spain, Silvia Senabre; the deputy general manager of Isbank, Sezgin Lüle; and the executive director of Payment Systems at the Central Bank of Turkey, Ahmet Bugday, analyzed how regulatory frameworks can incentivize innovation without compromising the security of the system.
In the second roundtable, the focus shifted to direct collaboration between companies. Arturo Mac Dowell, president of the Spanish Association of Fintech and Insurtech (AEFI), and Hakan Erdoğan, CEO of Craftgate, discussed the creation of operational synergies. According to these experts, the ‘strategic bridge’ between Madrid and Istanbul allows tech startups to access new markets more easily, leveraging the payment infrastructures and open banking solutions already established in both regions.
Turkey and Spain have maintained a growing collaboration for years in all sectors of the economy. Trade exchanges, which exceeded 20 billion euros in 2025, grow year after year. During the celebration of the 8th Intergovernmental Summit (June 2024), both parties set the goal of reaching 25 billion in the next five years.
Precisely, collaboration in the fintech sector would allow to leverage, according to experts, that trade volume and enhance technological investments, which currently exceed 11 billion dollars from Spanish companies in Turkey and 700 million from Turkish companies in Spain.
All participants emphasized the role of technology as a driver of global economic transformation and business internationalization. Therefore, they clearly advocated for boosting technological and financial cooperation between both countries, taking advantage of the solid foundation provided by trade exchanges and a constantly growing technological financial ecosystem.
Also, on the same day in the afternoon, the Embassy of Turkey offered a reception at the Real Casino de Madrid to businessmen and diplomats, which highlighted once again the opportunities for investment and entrepreneurship in the transcontinental country, event that had a large presence of guests.
