NEWS SCAN for Turkey – Nov 8th, 2013

Down below you will find a summary of topics from major Turkish papers and internet sites

Google eyes Turkey’s Fatih Project

Fatih Project, Turkey’s nationwide high-tech education initiative has attracted tech giant Google’s attention. Visiting Turkey’s Minister of Science, Industry and Technology, Nihat Ergun, in the Turkish capital of Ankara, Google Vice President Vinton Cerf suggested that the use of company’s open-source products would be beneficial for the huge project, which includes the manufacturing and distribution of millions of tablets. “The open-source operating system that Google has developed is well suited for the needs of the Fatih Project with its flexible nature..”, Cerf said about Google’s Android operating system.

Inviting Google to invest in Turkey’s own ‘Silicon Valley”, officially called “IT Valley”, to be established in Gebze in the northwestern province of Kocaeli, Minister Ergun informed the company’s Vice President about Turkey’s investment incentives for research and development activities. “We plan to begin allocating land to investors in the “IT Valley” by the next year. We expect Google to take its place there..”, Ergun said at the meeting. 

Estimated to cost around USD 7 billion, the Fatih Project involves millions of primary education students, 600,000 classrooms and 40,000 public schools throughout Turkey, aiming to increase the overall quality of education in public schools by integrating high-tech equipment into the education system.

invest.gov.tr

Japanese Ajinomoto to buy 50 percent of Turkish food company

Seeking to expand in the Turkish market, Japanese group Ajinomoto has announced a 50 percent share acquisition deal for approx. USD 30 million with the Turkish food products company Kukre AS.

The Japanese company with operations in the food and pharmaceuticals industries in a total of 26 countries aims to strengthen its business and diversify its product range in Turkey, according to the statement by Ajinomoto.

Ajinomoto has been active in the Turkish market since 2011. Kukre AS, known for its Kemal Kukrer brand of vinegars, seasonings and other products, currently exports to more than 30 countries.

invest.gov.tr

PM Erdoğan: Economic confidence & stability are among our greatest gains

Confidence in Turkey’s economy has risen due to the political stability, as well as the structural reforms and business-friendly policies implemented during the last decade, Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the 8th meeting of the Investment Advisory Council of Turkey, held in Istanbul last week.

Chairing the council meeting being held regularly since 2004 to bring together the executives of leading multinational companies, leaders of business organizations and government officials to improve Turkey’s investment environment, Erdogan said that Turkey had come a long way in terms of predictability since the ruling Justice and Development Part (AK Party) came to power in late 2002. “The economic confidence and stability we have built are the greatest gains in our economy. Well-defined, timely declared and resolutely pursued policies are vital to business confidence.”, Turkey’s Prime Minister said at the opening address of the meeting.

The World Bank President Jim Yong Kim as well as representatives from Air Liquide, Alstom, Europe Investment Fund, Burgan Bank Group, Citigroup, Eldorado Gold Corporation, Energy Allied International, E. ON, Hitachi Ltd, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd., Khazanah National Berhad, Medtronic, Nesma Holding., Sumitomo Rubber , Thyssenkrupp AG and VINCI were present at the meeting.

Dunya.com

Fast growth draws investors to Turkey

Having reached an average annual growth rate of over 5 percent in the last ten years, Turkey is the only consistently growing economy in Europe, according to the President of the Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT), Ilker Ayci. Speaking on his return from the Turkey Investment Week in the US, Ayci referred to Turkey’s perception in the eyes of foreign investors undergoing a profound change over the last decade.

“The political and economic stability achieved in the last decade has greatly improved Turkey’s image regarding the business and investment environment . Having drawn some USD 123 billion dollars of FDI in the past decade alone, Turkey is projected to attract USD 100 billion in the next 5 years..”, the ISPAT President said about the country’s outlook while celebrating the 90th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey.

Comparing the FDI amount in the first 80 years of the Republic, amounting to USD 15 billion, with the USD 123 billion received in the last 11 years under the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) administration, Ayci said that the accomplishment was obvious.

invest.gov.tr / Sabah

Turkey’s foreign tourists up 10.9 percent in Jan-Sep period

Around 28.5 million tourists visited Turkey in the first nine months of the year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced on Thursday.

Data showed that the number of tourists from January to September this year increased by 10.09 percent compared to the same period in the previous year. In addition, the number of tourists in September went up by 6.9 percent year-on-year to 4.27 million.

Among the countries sending visitors to Turkey, Germany was ranked number one with 3.9 million visitors while Russia followed with 3.8 million and the UK with 2.1 million. In the first nine months, Europeans and former Soviet Union countries made up 79 percent of total tourists. Out of 28.5 million tourists, 15 million were Europeans and 7 million were from former Soviet Union countries. These tourists mostly preferred to visit the provinces of Antalya, İstanbul, and Mugla in Turkey.

TODAYS ZAMAN

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compiled by Editor BTT,

We do not verify above stories neither do we vouch for their accuracy.