Izmir: (Population: 4 million) Izmir, which is the major city of the Aegean region, plays an important role in the Turkish economy. A considerable amount of Turkish exports are shipped from the Port of Izmir, which is the second most highly utilised port in Turkey. The volume of trade activities in Izmir has improved with the establishment of the Aegean Free Zone several years ago, and the city promises to be one of the most progressive trade centres in the Middle East.
There are three organised industrial zones and plans to establish a fourth, which would be a free trade zone. Gaziantep is famous for its kebabs and baklava, reputedly the best in Turkey. Eskisehir: (Population: 650,000) Situated midway between Istanbul and Ankara, Eskisehir is a developing industrial town. There is a factory manufacturing aircraft engines. There are also two dynamic universities. Eskisehir is traditionally famous as the home of Meerschaum pipes.
Izmir's main industrial sectors include agricultural products, foodstuffs, tourism, automotive, textiles, clothing, iron & steel and mining. Konya: (Population: 1.3 million) Konya is the largest city in south-central Anatolia and Turkey's agricultural capital. It is home to a large agroindustry. It is also known for its conservatism and as the home of the whirling dervishes. Kayseri: (Population: 1.25 million) Kayseri is an industrial town in the east of central Anatolia. It is one of the traditional centres of the weaving industry in Turkey. It has one of the largest organised industrial zones, with over 300 companies established on it. Kayseri is dominated by Mount Erciyes, a dormant volcano, on which the snow never melts. Mount Erciyes is home to a ski resort. Gaziantep: (Population: 1.7 million) Gaziantep is at the centre of the GAP (South-East Anatolian Project). The GAP is Turkey's most ambitious development project, comprising 22 dams and the irrigation of over 1.5 million hectares of land. Gaziantep has a strong industrial base. www.Turkey.DoingBusinessGuide.co.uk
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