About the Ege Region

For instance, Istanbul, the capital of industry and commerce, trade and tourism, is mostly specialized in the production of clothing, cement, paper, petrochemical products, durable household items, ships and yachts. It ranks second however, after the Aegean Region in textiles, food and agriculture. Ankara on the other hand, which is the Capital of Turkey and the surrounding Central Anatolian Region, is more specialised in information technologies, electronics, military equipment, and grain production and husbandry.

The area IRC-EGE is responsible from is the Aegean Region located in the West of Turkey, comprising of 14 provinces around the city of Izmir; namely, Canakkale, Balikesir, Manisa, Usak, Afyon, Kutahya, Aydin, Denizli, Muðla, Isparta, Burdur, Antalya, and Icel.

Although it covers approximately 170,000 km2 which corresponds to 21% of Turkey’s territory, it is one of the most advantageous regions of Turkey, with respect to its geological structure, natural resources, climate, river regimes, water products, natural vegetation, soil formation and fertility, land usage, agricultural products, animal farming and energy resources.

Second Largest Industrial Region

The region is the second largest industrial region in the country after Istanbul with very specific socio-economic differences. Total population of the area is approximately 15 million, possessing a GDP Share of 15.2%, 2.,642 USD Per Capita in the region. Total exports and imports in these areas amounted to 8 and 6 billion USD, respectively, in 2001. These values are 25% of total exports and 14% of total imports.

Cultivated land covers a large portion of the Aegean Region. More than half of Turkey's tobacco production and one-third of cotton originate from this Region. The Region is also a major producer of fruits and vegetables. Seedless grapes (35%), figs (80%), olives (48%), citrus fruits and related industries are predominant and constitute the major export items of the region.

Thus, the economy is agro-industry oriented. Food, textiles, leather, plastics and machinery are in the lead with Izmir as the capital encompassing all industries and others are concentrated in the surrounding provinces; the olive oil industry in the North of the Region, sugar factories and synthetic fertiliser factories, carpet weaving, cotton processing in the inner parts.

There is a large oil refinery at Aliaða, near Izmir. The Region contributes to the electricity production in Turkey through thermal, hydroelectric and geothermal power plants. Tourism also contributes considerably to the economy of the Region.

Izmir, the third largest city in Turkey, is the biggest city of the Aegean Region. There are 15 Universities in the Region, where a total of 250,000 students are enrolled, employing 13,200 academic staff. Five of these are located in the capital of the Region, Izmir. The city is approximately 600 km away from Istanbul and Ankara. It has a free-trade zone, an international airport and a harbour and it is located at the junction of the main highways to other major cities.

Izmir possesses a large potential for investment, with its well-established transportation and communication infrastructures, proximity to domestic and foreign markets, and availability of qualified man-power. There is a very large organised industrial region in Central Izmir and five others in the periphery, encompassing a total of 1,300 companies and providing employment for 60,000 people.