Economy

Turkey has a wealth of natural resources including coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, mercury, petroleum, natural gas and salt.

The rise of the Turkish economy in recent years has been phenomenal with both commercial and manufacturing industries surpassing the agricultural sector. Motor vehicles, engineering and petroleum refining are just three of the biggest industries. Manufacturing industries produce iron and steel much of which is used in the automotive industry. Turkey also produces textiles, food processing, coal and industrial chemicals. Tourism employs thousands of Turks in the service industries to cater year-round for over ten million visitors from both West and East.

Turkey is traditionally famous for its exports of agricultural products and foodstuffs such as figs, nuts and dried fruit, as well as tobacco, leather and glass.

Trading partners include the US, UK, Italy, France, Saudi Arabia and Russia, with Germany providing the principal market for both imports and exports.

Local Economy

Throughout history, Istanbul has been Turkey's main seaport for imports and exports of traditional commodities such as textiles, tobacco, glass and leather. From this ancient port, laden ships have been embarking for world markets for over 2000 years.

Many of Turkey's manufacturing industries and commercial sectors are centred around Istanbul, with large developments to the north of the city and to the west of the Bosphorus.

Shopping in Istanbul

People come to Istanbul from all over the world to buy Turkish carpets, and because carpets are sold at so many shops, finding a competitive deal is relatively easy although it requires time to browse in order to find just the pattern and price that appeals.

The best way to get the right deal on a carpet is simply to choose it without pressure from a sales assistant and ship it home yourself.

Istanbul's Covered Market (also known as the Grand Bazaar) in Beyazit is the place for carpets, leather goods and antiques. Other popular markets include the Egyptian Market in Eminönü and the Kapali Çarsi, which has over 4000 shops.

For many visitors from the West, the markets and bazaars offer a unique shopping experience. To begin, the best policy is simply to browse and take in the atmosphere. Locals as well as tourists come to the markets to shop, and it's a good idea to see how they go about making their purchases. Obviously, vendors will draw tourists in to buy their wares with all sorts of friendly encouragement.