Economy
- One of the driving forces behind the national economy
- The second largest commercial centre in Turkey
- A significant industrial base, realizing 9.3% of Turkey's total industrial production
- Created 48% of the Aegean Region's GDP in 2008
- Has high potential in motor vehicles, chemicals, industrial machinery & equipment, food & beverage production, renewable energy, tourism, automotive OEM, information & communications technology
- Has 1743 international companies
A Foreign Tradebase
- More than 4,000 export companies
- 4.2% of the total imports and 5.8 % of the total exports of Turkey
- The traditional export items of Izmir are agro-industry products, machinery and mechanical appliances, automotive components, iron and steel, tobacco, foodstuffs and textile
- A worldwide reputation for its local products such as cotton, figs, grapes, tobacco, olives and superior quality olive oil
- With its organized industrial zones including 7 active, 6 under construction and several in project phase, 2 free zones, 1 technology development zone and 4 main trade ports, Izmir is the investment attraction centre of the region.
The number of international companies in Izmir increased by 105% from 2006 to 2012.
Source: Republic of Turkey Ministery of Economy
The most important factors behind this increase were:
- Izmir's proximity to foreign and domestic markets.
- access to a high quality workforce
- low labour rates .
- a highly developed infrastructure
- access to raw materials
Breakdown of the Number of International Companies in Izmir by Country of Origin (As of the end of 2010)

Source:Republic of Turkey Ministery of Economy