Country of origin information report Turkey March 2007

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Map

1.05 Map of Turkey courtesy of CIA World FactBook:

https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/tu.html

See also links to more detailed maps of Turkey:
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/publ/opendoc.pdf?tbl=PUBL&id=4487e9280
http://www.factmonster.com/atlas/country/turkey.html
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/turkey_pol83.jpg

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2 Economy
2.01 The European Commission Turkey 2006 Progress Report, released on 8 November 2006, noted that:
“In examining the economic developments in Turkey, the Commission's approach was guided by the conclusions of the European Council in Copenhagen in June 1993, which stated that membership of the Union requires the existence of a functioning market economy, and the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union. The rapidly growing Turkish economy ran into fast growing external imbalances. This was predominantly caused by too slow structural reforms and a sizeable increase in investment spending. The authorities reacted promptly by fiscal and monetary tightening. In conclusion, economic growth has remained quite strong and has become more balanced.” [71a] (p25-26)
2.02 The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) country report released January 2007 noted that:
“After the 2001 financial crisis and recession, GDP growth in Turkey was strong,

averaging 7.5% per year in 2002-05. In 2006 it averaged 7% year on year in the

first half of the year, but slowed sharply to 3.4% in the third quarter, reflecting

the impact on domestic demand of the fall in the value of the lira, rising

inflation and higher interest rates. Overall, we now expect economic growth to

have slowed from 7.4% in 2005 to 5.2% in 2006 and to fall further to 4.5% in

2007, before picking up again to 5.5% in 2008. Weaker domestic demand growth will be partly offset by a deceleration in imports and an acceleration in export growth, resulting in a marked improvement in the foreign balance in 2006-08. There is a substantial risk, however, of a more prolonged and deeper slowdown if inflation starts to rise sharply again in 2007 and the Central Bank retightens monetary policy.” [108] (p12)
2.03 The World Bank Data and Statistics for Turkey – World Development Indicators database, April 2006 (website accessed 13 December 2006) recorded a GNI per capita [average annual income] in 2005 of US$4710. [45]
2.04 The 2006 EC report however noted that:
“As regards employment policy, little progress can be reported. Low labour force participation and employment rates, in particular of women, high levels of youth unemployment, the large size of the informal economy and the strong rural/urban labour market divide remain the main challenges. The overall employment rate in 2005 decreased to 43.4%, whereas unemployment rate remained at 10.3%. The scale of unregistered employment continues to be of concern.” [71a] (p53)
2.05 The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) country report released January 2007 however noted that:
“The strength of the economy increased employment in industry, construction

and services in 2005 and 2006. In August 2006 the number of people

employed in these three sectors rose by 2.9%, 6.8% and 4% respectively by

comparison with August 2005. The pace of employment growth in services

which is by far the largest employer, providing work for 10.6m people was

noticeably slower than in preceding months… The number of unemployed was

put at 2.38m the same as in August 2005. The unemployment rate worked out at

9.1%, compared with 9.4% a year earlier. The unemployment rate had already

been running below year earlier levels for some months, and in May, June and

July which are the peak months for employment, owing to the seasonal nature of

much work in agriculture, construction and tourism it had fallen as low as 8.8%.”