News Scan for Turkey, March 06th 2017

News Scan for Turkey, March 06th 2017

First Turkish GSM station to be operational in April

Turkey’s first cell tower system for GSM networks will go into service in April, according to a top representative from the main developer company. The new station for cellphone networks, called ULAK, boasts 750 signed orders, said the vice director general of the system’s main developer Aselsan, which produces electronic defense systems for the Turkish military.

“Due to the fast development of technology, secure communications have started to have a strategic importance. With ULAK, our communications system will be more secure,” Aselsan’s Yavuz Bayız told state-run Anadolu Agency at the four-day World Mobile Congress in Barcelona on March 2. The first cell tower system, due to be operational in April, will be located in the Black Sea province of Rize.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/first-turkish-gsm-station-to-be-operational-in-april—.aspx?pageID=238&nID=110367&NewsCatID=345

Turkey on way to export energy within a decade

February 2017 saw the commissioning of a critical investment for enhancing the security of gas supplies. As part of the policy to increase energy supply security, Turkey opened Tuz Gölü gas storage facility in the Central Anatolian province of Aksaray. This facility will increase the country’s total storage capacity by nearly 50 percent. The facility was inaugurated on February 10 with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Minister of Energy Berat Albayrak. Comprised of 12 wells constructed with an investment of USD 700 million, the facility will pump about 44 mcm of gas daily into the country’s gas network. With the completion of new phases of investment within the next few years, its storage capacity is expected to increase up to 5.4 bcm.

In December 2016, Turkey also put into operation its first floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) at Aliağa on the Aegean coast. The terminal’s development, from the final investment decision to completion, took 6.5 months. Engie, the French multinational energy group, was selected by the project partners Kolin and Kalyon to commit the 145,000-cubic meters Neptune vessel to the project.

http://www.invest.gov.tr/en-US/infocenter/news/Pages/turkey-on-way-to-export-energy-within-a-decade.aspx

232,085 new jobs created in February after launch of employment campaign: Minister

Some 232,085 new jobs were created across Turkey in February after the government started a campaign to boost employment, a top official announced on March 3.  “We have progressed step by step on the road to achieving our employment goals. We saw skyrocketing figures in February, when 232,085 new jobs were offered,” said Labor and Social Security Minister Mehmet Müezzinoğlu in a statement, as quoted by Reuters.

The government’s employment encouragement campaign, which was announced early in February by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, aims to create 2 million new jobs.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/232085-new-jobs-created-in-february-after-launch-of-employment-campaign-minister.aspx?pageID=238&nID=110432&NewsCatID=345

Erdoğan lashes out at Germany over rally bans

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Sunday lashed out at Germany after Turkish ministers were barred from holding public rallies in two German cities ahead of the April 16 referendum in Turkey. Speaking at a meeting of the Women and Democracy Foundation (KADEM) in Istanbul, Erdoğan accused Germany of repeating past Nazi habits.
“They do not let our friends speak in Germany. Let them do it. Do you think that barring a Turkish minister from pronouncing a speech [in Germany] will make the votes ‘No’ instead of ‘Yes’?” Erdoğan said.

“Germany! You have nothing to do with democracy. Your recent practices are no different than the Nazi ones of the past,” he added.

http://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/erdogan-lashes-out-at-germany-over-rally-bans-2623632

P&G commissions USD 80 million production plant in Gebze

Procter & Gamble (P&G), a multinational manufacturer of consumer goods that include family, personal, and household care products, commissioned a plant in Gebze, Kocaeli that will be used for the production of diapers and feminine care products. The plant represents a USD 80 million investment on the part of P&G.

During his welcome remarks at the opening ceremony, ISPAT President Arda Ermut said that P&G’s new plant will contribute significantly to President Erdoğan’s recent call for mobilization of employment in Turkey. The new plant in Gebze will enable localization of previously-imported product groups and bring in new manufacturing technologies to Turkey, according to P&G CEO David Taylor. The company has been operational in Turkey since 1987, and has invested over USD 700 million since its entry into Turkey, where it also manages operations in the Caucasus regions with 700 employees.

http://www.invest.gov.tr/en-US/infocenter/news/Pages/pg-commissions-usd-80-million-production-plant-in-gebze.aspx

Over $10 bln to be invested in central Istanbul district Beyoğlu over next three years: Mayor

Investments worth around $10 billion are expected to be made in the central Istanbul district of Beyoğlu over the next three years, Beyoğlu Mayor Ahmet Misbah Demircan stated on March 1.

“Many top urban transformation projects are being carried out in Beyoğlu. These projects, such as the Galataport and Tarlabaşı projects, have attracted foreign investors. Despite recent negative developments, we expect investments worth $10 billion to be made in our district in the coming three years,” Demircan said in a meeting with investors, according to a follow-up press release.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/over-10-bln-to-be-invested-in-central-istanbul-district-beyoglu-over-next-three-years-mayor.aspx?pageID=238&nID=110360&NewsCatID=345

06.03.2017
compiled by Editor BTT

This is a news-scan from major Turkish papers and internet sites. However, we do not verify above stories neither do we vouch for their accuracy.