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Top 10 reasons to invest in Turkey

Article - November 7, 2014

After his recent interview with The Worldfolio, Ilker Ayci, Turkey’s Investment Support and Promotion Agency (ISPAT) president was kind enough to provide us with what he believes are the top 10 reasons for investing in Turkey.

1. Successful economy

  • Booming economy; more than tripling its GDP, reaching USD 820 billion in 2013, up from USD 231 billion in 2002 (TurkStat)
  • Stable economic growth with an average annual real GDP growth rate of 4.9 percent over the past decade (TurkStat)
  • Promising economy with a bright future as it is expected to become the fastest growing economy among the OECD members during 2012-2017 with an average annual real GDP growth rate of 5.2 percent (OECD Economic Outlook No. 91)
  • 16th largest economy in the world and 6th largest economy compared with the EU in 2013 (GDP at PPP, IMF WEO)
  • Institutionalized economy fueled by USD 135 billion of FDI in the last decade. (CBRT)
  • A dynamic and mature private sector with USD 152 billion worth of exports and an increase of 245 percent between 2004 and 2013 (TurkStat)

2. Population

  • A population of 76.7 million (2013, TurkStat)
  • Largest youth population compared with the EU (Eurostat)
  • Half the population under the age 30.4 (2013, TurkStat)
  • Young, dynamic, well-educated and multi-cultural population

3. Qualified and competitive labor force

  • Over 28.3 million young, well-educated and motivated professionals (2013, TurkStat)
  • Increasing labor productivity
  • Approximately 610,000 students graduate annually from over 183 universities (2012, Student Selection and Placement Center-OSYM)
  • More than 700,000 high school graduates with around half from vocational and technical high schools (2012, TurkStat)

4. Liberl and reformist investment climate

  • The second biggest reformer among OECD countries in terms of its restrictions on FDI since 1997 (OECD FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index 1997-2012)
  • Business-friendly environment with average of 6 days to set up a company, while the average in OECD members is more than 11 days (World Bank Doing Business Report 2014)
  • Highly competitive investment conditions
  • Strong industrial and service culture
  • Equal treatment for all investors
  • Around 36,950 companies with international capital in 2013 (Ministry of Economy)
  • International arbitration
  • Guarantee of transfers

5. Infrastructure

  • New and highly developed technological infrastructure in transportation, telecommunications and energy
  • Well-developed and low-cost sea transport facilities
  • Railway transport advantage to Central and Eastern Europe
  • Well-established transportation routes and direct delivery mechanism to most of the EU countries

6. Centrally located

  • A natural bridge between both East-West and North-South axes, thus creating an efficient and cost effective outlet to major markets
  • Easy access to 1.6 billion customers in Europe, Eurasia, the Middle East and North Africa
  • Access to multiple markets worth USD 26 trillion of GDP

7. Energy corridor and terminal of Europe

  • An important energy terminal and corridor in Europe connecting the East and the West
  • Located at a close proximity of more than 70 percent of the world’s proven primary energy reserves, while the largest energy consumer, which is Europe, is located right to the west of Turkey, thus making the country a linchpin in energy transit and an energy terminal in the region

8. Low taxes and incentives

  • Corporate Income Tax reduced from 33 percent to 20 percent
  • Tax benefits and incentives in Technology Development Zones, Industrial Zones and Free Zones could include total or partial exemption from Corporate Income Tax, a grant on employer’s social security share, as well as land allocation
  • R&D and Innovation Support Law
  • Incentives for strategic investment to decrease imports, for large-scale investments, as well as for regional investments

9. Customs union with the EU since 1996

  • Customs Union with the EU since 1996 and Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with 20 countries (Ministry of Economy)
  • More FTAs underway
  • Accession negotiations with the EU

10. Large domestic market

  • 32.6 million broadband internet subscribers in 2013, up from 0.1 million in 2002 (ICTA, TurkStat)
  • 69.6 million mobile phone subscribers in 2013, up from 23 million in 2002 (TurkStat)
  • 57 million credit card users in 2013, up from 16 million in 2002 (The Interbank Card Center of Turkey)
  • 149.4 million airline passengers in 2013, up from 33 million in 2002 (TurkStat)
  • 40.7 million international tourist arrivals in 2013, up from 13 million in 2002 (TurkStat).

Read The Worldfolio’s recent interview with Ilker Ayci to see why he believes Turkey is on the path to becoming a top 10 economy by 2023.

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