[puravida]

Izmir, the rising star of Turkey is set to lead the region in particular, and Turkey as a whole, into and beyond the year 2010

Izmir, the rising star of Turkey is set to lead the region in particular, and Turkey as a whole, into and beyond the year 2010 with its organized industrial zones and transportation infrastructure. In addition to its geographic proximity to regional markets and its neighborly relations with these markets, Izmir, a city that has been molded by centuries of history, has a special place in Turkey with its unique and colorful art and social life as well as its commercial significance.

The Aegean Region has become one of Turkeys most important locations for trade and industry, accounting for 12 percent of Turkeys overall industrial production. Izmir specializes in petroleum, food, textiles, and iron and steel. The city is very welcoming to foreign investment and offers great opportunities. Izmir has the lions share of foreign investment in Turkey. In recent years, multinational companies such as GM, Rockwell, Philip Morris, British American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco, Dr. Otker, Carlsberg, Cementir, Akzo Nobel, Tesco, Ikea, Hugo Boss, Delphi, Temamet, West York Shire Sellmongers (WYS) and Mayr Melnhof Graphia have chosen Izmir as a base due to its advantageous location. Izmir has an adequately developed infrastructure to meet the requirements of global trade. Travel and transportation to and from the region is facilitated by frequent international flights by major Turkish and foreign airlines and charter carriers. Air transportation, the railroad network and well-maintained highways connect Izmir to all parts of Turkey and to the rest of the world. The Port of Izmir can accommodate conventional ships as well as container and passenger ships and it has berths for roll-on/roll-off ships in addition to a modern storage facility with a 2.72 million ton capacity. Thousands of ships dock annually at the port.

In addition to its auspicious standing in industry, Izmir has been most prolific in the sphere of science and technology. Izmir has made remarkable contributions to the development of science in Turkey with excellent universities such as Ege University, Dokuz Eylül University, the High Technology University, the Izmir Economy University and Yaşar University.

Tourism is another major industry in Izmir, which can boast about its beautiful coastline, astonishing history and rich cultural life.

There is a tax-free zone in Izmir as well. The Aegean Free Zone was the first such region in Turkey where industry production and free trade are carried out together. A total of 360 companies operate in this zone including such renowned international concerns as Hugo Boss and Delphi.

With its soaring economy, Izmir accounts for 17.4 percent of Turkeys total exports and 90 percent of the total exports of the Aegean region. In 2005 Izmir recorded $12.7 billion in exports and $14.5 billion in imports.

Izmir has a population of 3.2 million people. There are 6,500 companies operating in various sectors in Izmir such as food, textiles, paper and printing, cement, industrial equipment, marble, steel and metal, furniture, cooling and heating equipment and the automotive sector. The industrial sector accounts for 30.5 percent of the citys economic turnover, followed by the retail sector at 22.9 percent, transportation and communications at 13.5 percent and the agriculture sector with 7.8 percent. Tobacco, cotton, figs, grapes, olives, olive oil, and fruits and vegetables are the major agricultural products grown in Izmir. The Aegean region is the only area in Turkey where agricultural and industrial production, domestic and foreign trade and tourism activities are carried out side by side. The region makes up 11.4 percent of the total land area of Turkey. In order to conduct a successful and environment-friendly industrialization policy a project to set up Organized Industrial Zones (OIZs) outside city limits has been launched. The Aegean region boasts 22 percent of Turkeys OIZs. Izmir currently has 19 of these zones.

[Hephaestion]

Thanks Puravida!

Very interesting bit of info!