Nearly seven in ten SMEs in Turkey continue to operate without insurance protection, despite mounting exposure to disasters, cyber incidents, supply chain interruptions and economic volatility. On 27 June, UN-designated SME Day, Allianz Türkiye draws attention to the urgent need for stronger resilience among small and medium-sized enterprises that sustain the country’s economic and social fabric.
SMEs remain central to Turkey’s economy. Based on TÜİK’s 2024 figures, 3 million 928 thousand enterprises fall into the SME category, representing 99.6 per cent of all businesses. These companies provide 68.5 per cent of employment and generate 41.2 per cent of total added value. Beyond their economic contribution, SMEs also create opportunity for women, young people and disadvantaged groups while supporting regional development and local production.
Risk Exposure Is Expanding Faster Than Awareness
As SMEs pursue growth, digital transformation and export ambitions, the range of threats affecting them is widening. Business risks are no longer limited to traditional concerns. Today, companies must also contend with climate-related losses, cyber-attacks, operational interruptions, inflationary pressure and supply chain fragility. According to the Allianz Risk Barometer 2026, the most pressing risks for businesses in Turkey include macroeconomic developments, cyber incidents and natural catastrophes. Artificial intelligence has also entered Turkey’s top ten business risks for the first time, ranking seventh this year.
Even with this growing risk landscape, Allianz Türkiye estimates that around 68 per cent of SMEs in Turkey still have no insurance cover. This leaves many businesses vulnerable to fires, floods, storms, earthquakes and digital threats that can halt operations and create severe financial strain. In such a climate, resilience depends not only on growth strategies but also on preparedness and sound risk planning.
Insurance and Risk Management Are Becoming Strategic Necessities
Öktem Örkün, Deputy General Manager of Commercial Insurance at Allianz Türkiye, emphasizes that SMEs are the foundation of the national economy, yet they are navigating an increasingly uncertain environment. He notes that companies now face both conventional risks and a newer generation of threats, including cyber incidents, climate-driven disasters, supply chain disruption and operational breakdowns. In this setting, identifying vulnerabilities early and building resilience are just as important as purchasing insurance.
He also underlines that risk management should no longer be treated merely as an expense. Instead, it has become a strategic factor that strengthens business continuity, sustainability and competitiveness. Recent earthquakes, floods, fires and extreme weather events in Turkey have made one fact especially clear: businesses need stronger protection mechanisms to keep operations running without interruption.
Managing Losses Before They Happen
The growing frequency of natural disasters and the broader effects of climate change have increased the value of technical expertise in the insurance sector. Established in 2019 with Allianz Group support, Allianz Teknik operates as Turkey’s first and only internationally accredited earthquake laboratory. It also functions as a Fire Testing and Training Centre, contributing to the management of disaster and environmental risks through science-based analysis and prevention-focused services.
Through engineering support, testing services, consultancy and training programmes, Allianz Teknik helps improve structural safety and raise awareness among both individuals and institutions. Its work supports businesses of different sizes and sectors in understanding potential threats, strengthening resilience and reducing possible losses before they escalate into major disruptions.
Integrated Protection Designed for SMEs
Allianz Türkiye also offers solutions tailored specifically to the needs of smaller businesses. With My Business Insurance, SMEs can obtain protection for a broad range of exposures under a single policy, including fire, earthquake, flood, theft, machinery breakdown, electronic equipment failure and liability risks. Rather than arranging multiple separate policies, businesses can access comprehensive and cost-efficient coverage designed around their operations.
For Turkey’s SMEs, resilience is no longer optional. In a business environment shaped by uncertainty and fast-changing threats, insurance, preparedness and professional risk management are increasingly essential for long-term survival and competitive strength.
