Turkish e-commerce sector experiencing booming growth, data show

Star – Internet vendors in Turkey sold over USD 8.9 billion worth of goods and services in a total of 91 million transactions in the first 9 months of 2011. The data released by the Interbank Card Center (BKM), the body that monitors credit and debit card usage in Turkey, indicate that Turkish internet users are adapting very rapidly to the convenience and cost advantages provided by e-shopping.

According to BKM data, the total amount spent on e-commerce sites reached TRY 16.7 billion (approx. USD 8.9 billion) up until the end of September, rising 52 percent over the same period of the previous year. The number of transactions also went up by 37 percent, reaching 91.7 million in the same period. “The 52 percent growth rate makes Turkey one of the fastest growing markets in e-commerce,” said Soner Canko, the General Manager of BKM.

According to BKM data, Turkish internet users mostly favored the services sector in e-commerce activities. The services sector, with applications ranging from holiday reservations to online tax paying, generated a total turnover of TRY 2.3 billion (approx. USD 1.2 billion), which is a hefty 69 percent increase over the same period of 2010.

Intel may invest in Turkey

Milliyet – The world’s largest semiconductor producer, Intel, may invest in a research and development (R&D) center in Turkey after a high-ranking executive’s visit to the country.

A trip to Turkey to closely observe the Turkish situation with regard to the latest trends in high-tech, convinced Intel’s Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, Nancy Bhagat, that an R&D center in the country is an excellent investment opportunity.

“I was surprised to see the level of technology the Turkish people have in their lives,” said Bhagat after paying visits to many family homes in Istanbul and Trabzon. “Every household I have been to had at least one PC, a widescreen TV, and a smartphone. The PC is seen as an educative tool to help kids with their studies in Turkey, and technology is intensively used in people’s daily routine,” she added.

“Intel regards Turkey as a pioneering country with a capacity to influence other countries. In this context, our investments and growth in this country are very important, as the larger regional influence is certainly taken into consideration when an investment is on the table,” she said.

“Considering this regional influence and other factors like geographical advantage, fast technology adaption, the importance attached to communication, and the use of technology for educational purposes, the question of establishing an R&D center in Turkey will be discussed in Intel headquarters,” said the Intel executive, underlining that Turkey’s Fatih Project is a very significant leap for the country’s education system. The Fatih Project aims to improve the quality of education by supplying high-tech equipment to schools and students. The project involves the production of 16 million tablet PCs to be distributed to primary education students.

Intel is involved in R&D projects in Turkey through its supply of equipment and support to the Middle East Technical University (METU) and Bilkent University.

Welcome to TABCON 2012 !

We are so excited to announce that Tabcon 2012 (Turkish-American Business Conference) is almost here.

You will find all the information about the conference details, speakers and registration information on this page.

Stay tuned!

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