Istanbul - The Rising City

Istanbul… The modern heir of ancient civilizations. A deep-rooted city with a bright future… Resembling an ever changing and evolving organism, Istanbul is also a global showcase of modern life. Its 14 million population larger than that of 140 countries; the City conducts half of Turkey’s foreign trade and generates nearly 1/3 of national income. With its young and dynamic nature, unique geographical position and rich history, Istanbul offers an economic market of great scale, acts as a crossroads for the civilizations of East and West and is a heritage of humanity. Now, this glorious city is at the brink of a new era. It is moving fast towards transforming itself as a modern metropolis, that integrates its future to the world. It constructs its future with a new vision, a new insight and new projects.

LARGE SCALE PROJECTS
Spatial expansion and population growth led to efforts to develop two new settlements. The Third Bridge and Northern Marmara Highway Project serve a logistics purpose as well as the goal of enabling proper use of the landscape.
Marmaray and subway projects with segments currently under construction and already in use, revolutionise the transportation network of the city. The Eurasia Tunnel project will once again connect Asia and Europe, this time under the sea. The construction of the world’s largest airport is ongoing. Higher demand and the growth of infrastructure investments put Istanbul in the focus of foreign investors as well. Today Istanbul is the scene for more than 40 mega projects. Investments out of local government budget alone approach 30 billion dollars.
A lively urban life with lots of activities in culture, arts and sports also support a globalizing Istanbul. Higher human mobility fosters tourism, whereas on the finance front Istanbul draws global attention as a centre of money. Urban transformation also helps the city to reinvent itself.

TERM PRESIDENCY OF G20
On the other hand, as Turkey is to hold the term presidency of G20 in 2015, Istanbul’s global position and importance will become even more visible.
Istanbul changes through development, and gets integrated with the world through change; it thus grows into a global brand. In this context, New Istanbul is taking steps towards the future, as the pioneer of a new Turkey and a new world.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Change is good. Development is even better. But sustained development is the best of all. Accordingly, it is crucial to maintain the process of change and transformation of Istanbul, culminated in a vision of integrating the old with the new, the history with the future.
This is how Istanbul will be able to avoid the danger of becoming yet another run-of-the-mill city, a risk which looms over all cities around the world. I believe that Istanbul, like each and every person, society, and nation that manage to change yet retain a unique character, will only become more of itself, and will reinforce its position in the global scene, through this distinctive character.
This is a city which served as the capital of three civilizations throughout history; it will soon become the capital of global economy and money.

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PROMİSE FOR EASY START-UPS

Comparing the investment environment in Turkey with the past, İbrahim Çağlar mentioned that doing business is now fast and easy. Investors in Turkey can complete most part of their bureaucratic procedures electronically. They can benefit from discounts and incentives in a wide range of areas including social security premiums and tax rates. Çağlar invited all potential investors and stated; “The doors of Istanbul Chamber of Commerce are wide open for all who want to invest in Istanbul. I, as the President of the Executive Board of Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, promise all potential investors coming to Istanbul, to help them complete registration procedures in the matter of a day so that they can go live hassle free.”

ATTRACTION OF REAL ESTATE

Underlining that an essential part of foreign investment in Turkey’s real estate sector -over 3 billion dollars- in 2013 was channelled to Istanbul, Çağlar said real estate presents great opportunities for Istanbul. President Çağlar expressed that 30 billion dollar investment has been realized by the local authority of Istanbul in the last decade, and added details as below:Approximately 40% of this amount pertains to transportation investments. Local authority’s total investment for subway is about 6 billion dollars.
Studies show that these investments increase real estate values by some50% to 100%.

LARGE SCALE PROJECTS

Çağlar stressed the importance of Marmaray,linking two continents by an undersea tunnel and reputed as the “Project of the Century”: ‘It is planned to triple the rail system network in Istanbul in 5 short years. Istanbul will be the 2nd city with the largest subway network system in 2019. It won’t be wrong to say a new city is being built under Istanbul.

3rd Bosphorus bridge and 3rd Airport projects continue at full speed. Similarly Kanal (Canal) Istanbul, and the Eurasia Tunnel which will allow passenger vehicles pass across the continents under the Bosphorus are on the track.
These investments will not only make Istanbul a more beautiful and accessible city; they will also lead to the emergence of wonderful opportunities in the real estate sector.’

22,000 FOREIGN COMPANIES

President Çağlar stated that Istanbul is a world city and a favourite among foreign investors - where approximately 22 thousand companies with foreign shareholding are operational. Çağlar said, in addition to its strong economy, Istanbul is the only city in the world which is divided by sea and emphasized, Istanbul is also a city showcasing historical and cultural heritages to global modern life. A dynamic city… Education, health, fashion, art… There is everything attracting and touching to human soul in this city. He quoted Napoleon’s famous words; “If the world were a country, Istanbul would be the capital”.

HOW DID ISTANBUL LEAVE 17 EU COUNTRIES BEHIND?

Çağlar stressed that with approximately 300 billion dollars income İstanbul has greater domestic revenue than 17 EU countries and with 207.5 billion dollars trade volume, it constitutes 52% of Turkey’s 400 billion dollars foreign trade volume.

05 Ağustos 2015 Çarşamba

Etiketler : English