 ECONOMIC
OUTLOOK |
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The city of
Izmir lies on the West Coast of Anatolia and is encircled
by the rich plains of the Aegean Region. In history, Izmir
is known as being the center of culture, trade and
civilization.
Izmir is approximately 12 thousand square kilometers with
a population of 3.1 million, making it the third largest
city and the second largest industrialized city in Turkey.
It is reported that in 1998, the per capita income
reached 4,375 Dollars in Izmir, while the average of
the country remained as 3.224 Dollars. |
The
Aegean Region is the most active and important area
for the shipping sector and port operations. The sea
and shore area are authorized and controlled by the
Undersecretariat of Marines. There are four main
trade ports in this region - the ports of Aliağa,
Çeşme, Dikili and Izmir.
However, Izmir is the main port of the region.
Almost 20% of the national exports are serviced by
the busy seaport of Izmir. The yearly loading
capacity of 7 million tons will reach 11 million
tons by the year 2005. |
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| Agriculture
plays an important role in the Aegean Region's
economy. However, industry is the most advanced
sector in the region, most of the investments
being in manufacturing. Consequently, industrial
products have a great share in foreign trade.
Izmir is the leading center for the economy of the
Aegean Region. Izmir has a share of 9.3 % in the
total manufacturing industry of Turkey. In other
words, Izmir's share in Turkey's GDP is 7.7 %. |
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The
multinational giants like General Motors, Philip
Morris, RJ Reynolds, Citibank, FTC / Lockheed,
Delphi (USA),
Samsung (S.
Korea),
Karstadt and Hugo Boss (Germany),
Akzo Nobel and AVEBE (Holland),
ELDOR (Italy),
ABB and Volvo (Sweden)
located their investments and businesses in Izmir.
In this decade, the considerable advantages of Izmir
have encouraged foreign investors to take a place in
this re - emerging city. |
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| The
Aegean Free Zone operating
in the district of Gaziemir is the most successful
free zone in Turkey with a trade volume of 1,2
billion dollars. It is located just 4 km. from
Izmir International Airport and 12 km. from the
Port of Izmir. It is the only production-oriented
free zone in Turkey. The major industries in the
free zone are electronics, automotive, high
technology products, food and packaging, textiles
and machinery. Among
the top 100 Turkish industrial companies 6 of them
are Aegean firms. Among the top 500, 77 are Aegean. |
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particular, food products, construction materials,
textile products, forest products and furniture,
chemicals, agricultural products and trade of these
products accelerate the commerce in Izmir. Besides
this, Izmir taking leaps forward in the
industrialization process attracts investment in the
sectors of tobacco, automotive, textile, electric -
electronics and food. In the Aegean Region where
over 6.000 industrial companies operate, 4000 are
located in Izmir. In the same way, of the 40
industrial zones, which are active and are still
being invested upon, 14 are in the province of Izmir. |
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| Our
Chamber, is planning to realize the "Aegean
Finance Center: Izmir"
project that it is hoped will contribute to the
development of Izmir and the Aegean Region and to
a strong capital formation. Besides this, Our
Chamber is planning to establish the Izmir
University in order to contribute to the future of
its young people who will thus increase the output
of the Aegean economy. |
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