Well. Look at this 2016 report from the world educational organization, OECD:
OECD's dissemination platform for all published content - books, podcasts, serials and statistics
www.oecd-ilibrary.org
50% of the population could barely manage a level 1 in numeracy and literacy. Most exports are agriculture. The economy is not complex and the drone tech touted are still, at the end of the day, based on a turboprop engine. It's old. The balance of payments deficit is also worse with the import of oil.
Most Turkish exports do not appear to be agriculture from available statistics.
According to that report, around $50 billion in trade deficit was incurred by the Republic of Turkey in 2020.
That is not an insignificant number if that trend repeats itself year after year after year. The cumulative deficits will have to be funded from external sources, which often means going back to the US or other Western countries for assistance.
To the best of my understanding, most developing nations face similar pressures. They do not enjoy the luxury of an Anglo Saxon brotherhood that Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK or the USA may enjoy. As a result, through their "reserve currencies" or their brotherhood, those countries can continue to enjoy trade and current account deficits year after year after year indefinitely while their currencies remain some of the most sought after "reserve currencies" and some of the most frequently traded in international foreign exchange trading centres. Interestingly, these foreign exchange trading centres are located primarily in Anglo Saxon countries or their current/former colonies such as New York, London, Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
Why other countries have never pursued this objective of trading foreign exchange within their own territories remains a mystery. Given the obvious national security implications of letting a foreign power (such as the USA) play with a country's economy, the livelihoods of its people and the well being of its businesses, it is not clear why other independent countries have never created alternative foreign exchange trading centres of their own.
To the best of my knowledge, some of the prominent developing countries that have been able to enjoy trade and current account surpluses year after year after year without much in the way of oil/gas/energy resources are Malaysia, Thailand and China.
Of these countries, Malaysia remains the only OIC country. However, as it may be well known, to this day, there remains a deep economic and massive social inequality between the various demographic groups in Malaysia. The majority ethnic Malay, who are Muslims by law, have not been able to bridge the economic divide and linger behind their less numerous Chinese citizens in economic, education, employment and entrepreneurial indicators.
Why such countries as Iran, Turkey, Indonesia or India have not been able to succeed in this pursuit of racking up trade and current account surpluses year after year after year remains a mystery.
A closer look at the respective investment development boards of the respective countries may provide some hints.
For
Turkey
Explore untapped investment opportunities across a variety of industries in Türkiye.
www.invest.gov.tr
For
Malaysia
For
Indonesia
For Thailand, China, Iran or India, I could not find similar sites. It is possible that they exist. Interested members are free to look them up on their own and form a clear idea.