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EKONOMİK
FORUM
Habitable city: Eskişehir
Entrance into the African market
becoming easier for Turkish companies
E
skişehir with its transportation infrast-
ructure, energy potential, fertile arable
land, rich mineral resources, developed in-
dustry as well as culture, arts and educati-
onal activities stands first among cities in
terms of habitability.
The city has shown rapid development
in its socioeconomic aspects as well as in-
dustrial growth in recent years. Eskişehir pla-
ces 7th on theDevelopment Ministry’s Rese-
arch on Rankings of Provinces’and Regions’
Socioeconomic Development (SEGE- 2011).
According to International Competitiveness
Research Institution’s (URAK) 2009-2010
Inter-Provincial Competitiveness Index, it is
the 6th most competitive province.
The city stands at 11,004 in the Bran-
ding Ability and Innovation Index, 9th
among 81 provinces while second only
to Ankara among the provinces of Central
Anatolia Region.
Known as a city of Universities, Eski-
şehir also pushes ahead with its industry.
The industrial sector’s share stands at 30%
while agriculture is at 10%, service in-
dustry is at 60%; the city is 4th in Turkey
in regards to per capita value generation,
while industry’s contribution to gross ad-
ded value generation stands at first place.
Another interesting piece of economic
data from Eskişehir comes to us from bu-
siness life, being the 5th highest paying
province in Turkey.
E
stablished by TOBB and the Union
of African Chambers of Commer-
ce, Industry, Agriculture and Professions
(UACCIAP), the Turkey-Africa Chamber
has begun its “Road Show: Discove-
ring Africa” program which aims to fa-
cilitate the entrance of Turkish compa-
nies into the African market and enable
them to be more active in the economy.
Speaking at the launch of the program
at the TOBB Ankara Twin Towers, TOBB
President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu empha-
sized that they put great importance on
cooperation in oder to better understand
business and investment opportunities
in Africa.