Erdal Bahçıvan

Industrialists say they cannot find machine operators and welders, contractors seek plasterers and painters, while tailors and carpenters cannot find apprentices.

With approximately 3 million people unemployed in Türkiye, the shortage of skilled and intermediate workers has become a threat to production, according to employers.

The economic confidence index increased by 1.1 percent in December after declining 1.3 percent in the previous month, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) has said.

Even though it climbed to 96.4, the index still remained below the 100-mark. Any index figure above 100 indicates an optimistic outlook regarding the general economic situation.

Oil refiner Tüpraş once again ranked first in the Istanbul Chamber of Industry's (İSO) Top 500 Industrial Enterprises list with production-based sales amounting to 418.4 billion Turkish Liras ($15.4 billion) last year.

Türkiye will establish five more free zones as part of its target to boost exports and lure more foreign investments, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat has said.

Speaking at an event at the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (İSO), Bolat noted that there are currently 19 free zones in the country.

Leaders of business associations have welcomed the Central Bank's move to hike its policy rate sharply by 650 basis points, calling it a step taken toward ensuring price and financial stability.

The Central Bank on June 22 increased its one-week repo auction rate from 8.5 percent to 15 percent. This has been the first rake hike since March 2021.

Turkey's Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (Botaş) has lowered natural gas flow to large industrial sites and power stations by 40 percent because of a disruption in pipeline gas imports from Iran.

The national pipeline company has taken all neceassary measures for households not be affected by the shortage, a statement released in the evening on Jan. 20 said.

Refinery giant Tüpraş retained its longtime leadership as Turkey's biggest industrial enterprise with production-based sales worth 58.6 billion Turkish Liras ($8.4 billion), the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (İSO) said on May 26. 

Stockpiling prompted by the pandemic, price hikes in raw materials, exchange rate volatility, increasing input costs, and speculative acts are among the reasons for food price inflation in Turkey, according to sectoral professionals.

Turkish industrialists have called for an easing of visa requirements abroad, in order to foster economic and trade relations with more countries Turkish businesspeople have called for an easing of visa requirements from the consulate generals of 37 countries, in order to foster economic and trade relations with those countries, in a press meeting hosted by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (IS