Turkey is a Parliamentary Democracy with a single chamber, the Grand National Assembly of 550 members directly elected for up to five-year terms. The President of the Republic is elected as head of state by members of the Grand National Assembly for a seven-year term. Legislative power is vested in the Grand National Assembly which performs this function on behalf of the Turkish Nation.   

Turkey covers an area of 781,000 square kilometers. It is larger than most European countries and exhibits an extremely diversified landscape which is characterized by seven distinct regions. There are 80 administrative provinces governed by local governors appointed by the central government. The capital city is Ankara which is located in the middle of the country.

The Black Sea region is heavily forested and the landscape provides ideal conditions for the cultivation of tea, nuts, tobacco and the processing of timber. In addition, several large ports create a vital link for transit trade to Iran, the Russian Federation and the Caucasian Republics.   

High mountains and plateau define Turkey's eastern and southeastern landscape. Agriculture is the dominant means of livelihood, but small industries especially in the textile sector are arising in the region. With the development of GAP (Southeastern Anatolian Project), southeastern region is expected to become a predominant textile center in the world.   

The Mediterranean region along the south-western coast of Turkey thrives on tourism. With all the warmth and charm of the Mediterranean, its shores exhibit a wealth of astounding beauty and contain some of the last unspoiled areas of Southern Europe together with an immense historical heritage. The land is well populated and intensively cultivated.    

Turkey's population is around 63 million and the population growth rate is around 1.5%. The local civilian work force is about 22 million. The population is much younger compared to European countries (approximately 70% of the population is below the age of 35). Turkey shall continue to constitute one of the largest populations in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The official language is Turkish. However, many Turkish businessmen speak and conduct transactions in English, French and German. Russian is also widely used for business. Islam is the dominant religion, but Turkey is a secular state. 

1. Unique geographical location - Turkey enjoys a very special location at the crossroads between East and West, overlapping Europe and Asia geographically. The proxy to the new emerging markets in Middle East and Central Asia creates unique business opportunities.
2. A strong international investment record -The experience of more than 4000 foreign capital establishments, including 104 of the Fortune Top 500 companies, confirms Turkey as a predominant investment location.
3. A fast developing economy - The average growth rate of 6,8 % for the last 3 years, which is well above many OECD countries, implies a dynamic and growing economy. WTO outputs also state that Turkey is among the most dynamic 20 countries in the world trade. 
4. A huge domestic market - With a population of 63 million and an increasing consumer purchasing power, Turkey offers a huge and dynamic domestic market to investors. 
5. High-skilled, competitive labor - The Turkish labor force is well-known with its skills and learning capacity, and competitive labor rates offer cutting edge for industries.
6. High quality standards - The new quality oriented generation in both manufacturing and services sectors ensures high quality levels; and this is also proven by two Turkish companies (Brisa and Netas) winning the European Quality Award consecutively in 1996 and 1997 and one other (Beksa) winning the European Quality Award for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises.
7. The gateway of energy resources - Turkey is located at the gateway of Middle East and Caspian petroleum and Central Asian natural gas to the west, which are regarded as the future energy reserves of the world.
8. A state of art telecommunications network - Turkey has a relatively "young" telecommunications network with the latest technology, which can easily compete with the developed countries. Turkey has launched two communication satellites into the orbit to enhance communication.
9. Economic and political stability - Turkey is identified with its democratic parliamentary regime and a stable growing economy within its region.
10. Strong ties with Caucus and Central Asia - Turkey is the leading investor in Caucasian and Central Asian Turkic Republics. Due to her strong cultural and historic ties, Turkey provides privileged access and a perfect base to develop business with these countries.