Bilateral Brief on Turkey

A. Embassy of India,
Address - 77, Cinnah Caddesi,
Çankaya, 06680, Ankara (Turkey)

Other Contact numbers in the Mission

Telephones (Chancery) 0090-312- 4382195-98 (4 lines)

Fax (Chancery) 0090-312-4403429, 4399323

Email addresses:
Ambassador’s office ambassador@indembassy.org.tr
Head of Chancery fspi@indembassy.org.tr

Website – www.indembassy.org.tr

B. Consulate General of India

Cumhuriyet Cad. No. 18(Old) 42(New)
Dortler Apt. 7th Floor, Flat No. 11-12
34367, Elmadag, Istanbul

Telephones (Chancery) 0090-212- 2962131-32

Fax (Chancery) 0090-212-2962130

Email addresses:
CG’s office cgoffice@cgiistanbul.org
Attache(Admn) vc@cgiistanbul.org

BASIC FACTS ABOUT COUNTRY

Name of the country : Republic of Turkey

Capital : Ankara

Names of Provinces & Provincial Capitals: Turkey has 81 provinces with the same names as
their headquarter cities. These are: Adana, Adiyaman, Afyon, Agri, Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara,
Antalaya, Ardahan, Artvin, Aydin, Balikesir, Bartin, Batman, Bayburt, Bilecik, Bingol, Bitlis, Bolu,
Burdur, Bursa, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum, Denizli, Diyarbakir, Duzce, Edrine, Elazig, Erzincan,
Erzurum, Eskisehir, Gaziantep, Giresun, Gumushane, Hakkari, Hatay, Igdir, Isparta, Istanbul, Izmir,
Kahramanmaras, Karabuk, Karaman, Kars, Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir, Kilis,
Kocaeli, Konya, Kutahya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mersin, Mugla, Mus, Nevsehir, Nigde, Ordu,
Osmaniye, Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Siirt, Sinop, Sivas, Sanliurfa, Sirnak, Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon,
Tunceli, Usak, Van, Yalova, Yozgat, Zonguldak.
Population : 67.9 million (2000 census), 71.52 million(Est: Dec 08)

Currency/Exchange rate : US$1 = Turkish Lira 1.47 (first week of August 2009)

Languages spoken : Turkish

Latitude/Longitude of the capital : 26-45E, 36-42N

Time Zone details of the country : (-) 3.5 hrs IST from October-March
(-) 2.5 hrs IST from April-September

Government:
President Mr. Abdullah Gul, President www.cankaya.gov.tr
Prime Minister Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, www.basbakanlik.gov.tr
Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Ministers Mr.Cemil Cicek, Mr. Bülent Arınç,
Mr. Ali Babacan
Foreign Minister Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu www.mfa.gov.tr
State Minister for Finance Mr. Mehmet Simsek
Defence Minister Mr. Vecdi Gonŭl
State Minister responsible for Mr. Mehmet Zafer Caglayan www.foreigntrade.gov.tr
Foreign Trade
Industry and Trade Mr. Nihat Ergin
Minister

The Central Bank:

Central Bank of Turkey (TCMB), Đstiklal Cad. 10 Ulus, 06100 Ankara, Turkiye, Tel : 0090
(312) 310 3646, Fax: 3103647

Basic foreign, international trade polices: Turkey seeks membership of the European Union
which is central to its foreign policy. Relationship with neighbouring countries and with the Middle-
East, Balkans and the Central Asian/Caucasus countries is another priority area. Economic
liberalization was initiated in 1981. Turkey follows liberalized economic policy and has a number of
PTA/FTA including Customs Union arrangement with EU.

Membership of major multilateral and regional organizations : UN, NATO, OIC, D-8, BSEC,
Turkey-EU Customs Union, OECD, ECO, G-20, CSCP

Major industries, global companies : Major industrial houses including Koc, Sabanci, Dogan etc.
Numerous multinational companies functioning in Turkey

Significant economic activities : Textiles & garments, construction, tourism, leather, food
processing, automobile, mining, agriculture etc.

Global Trade and Investment : Large adverse balance of trade despite high export growth (nearly
60% trade with OECD countries) .

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Total imports into Turkey : $ 69.3 bn (2003); $97.1 bn (2004); $ 110 bn (2005); $ 133 bn (2006);
$ 170 bn (2007), $ 202 bn (2008)

Major exporting countries : Russian Federation, Germany, China, Italy, the USA, Iran, UK,
Switzerland and Spain

Total exports from Turkey : $ 47.2 bn (2003); $62.7 bn (2004); $ 73.1 bn (2005); $ 92 bn (2006),
$ 107 bn (2007), $132 bn (2008).

Major destinations of exports : Germany, UK, Italy, France, USA, Spain, Netherlands, Iraq,
Russia, Greece, Romania, etc.

Investments in Turkey

Turkey is an attractive country for foreign investors with a business-friendly regulatory environment.
It has a large dynamic market with a relatively high quality labour force and location advantage,
with easy access to regional markets. It is a member of EU Customs Union, providing access to
the large European market. The net foreign direct investment in Turkey was $ 10.03 billion in
2005, 19.92 billion in 2006 and 21.97 billion in 2007. The main beneficiaries of FDI have been
hotels, tourism and leisure, textile and auto component sectors and the main sources of investment
are USA, UK and Germany.

Major Scientific Institutions/Universities:

Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Organisation (TUBITAK)

Ataturk Bul. 221, Kavaklidere, Ankara,
Tel: 0312 4261381
Fax: 0312-4672988,
URL: www.tubitak.gov.tr

Istanbul Technical University (ITU)

Ayazağa Kampüsü 34469
Maslak-İSTANBUL
Tel: 212 285 29 00 212 285 33 33
Faks:212 285 66 10
Website: www.itu.edu.tr

Middle East Technical University (METU)

Middle East Technical University
06531 Ankara/TURKEY
Phone: (+90) (312) 210 2000 99 (Internal)
Fax: (+90) (312) 210 1105
E mail: rektor metu.edu.tr
Website: www.metu.edu.tr

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 Important Think Tanks on Foreign Policy related issues :

Turkish Asian Centre for Strategic Studies (TASAM) The Turkish Economic and Social Studies
Balaturka Binası, Akçin Sokak, Nu.3, Foundation (TESEV)
Fener-Balat, 34087 İstanbul Bankalar Caddesi, Minerva Han, No.2, Kat.3,
Phone: +90 212 635 61 51 – 532 60 66 Karaköy, İstanbul, 34420, Turkey
Fax: +90 212 532 58 82 Phone: +90 (212) 292 89 03
E-mail: bilgi@tasam.org Fax: +90 (212) 292 90 46
Website: http://www.tasam.org E-mail: info@tesev.org.tr

International Strategic Research Organization Prof. Dr. Güven SAK , Director

(USAK) Economic Policy Research Foundation of
Süslü Sokak, No: 2, Mebusevleri, Tandoğan, Ankara. Turkey(TEPAV)
Tel: 0090 312 212 28 86 (PBX) Söğütözü Cad. No:43 TOBB-ETÜ Yerleşkesi 2.
Fax: 0090 312 212 25 84 Kısım, 06560 Söğütözü - Ankara
Email: info@usak.org.uk Tel: +90 312 292 5500
Website: http://www.usak.org.uk, Fax: +90 312 292 5555
http://www.usak.org.tr http://www.isro.org.uk, E mail: tepav@tepav.org.tr
http://www.turkishweekly.net Website: www.tepav.org.tr

Turkish Foreign Policy Institute, Centre for Eurasian Strategic Studies (ASAM),
Bilkent University, Eastern Campus, Bilkent, Ankara. Konrad Adenauer Cad. 61, Yildiz, Ankara.
Tel:0312-2662869/70, Fax 0312-2662871. Tel: 0312-4916070, Fax: 0312-4916099,
Website: www.foreignpolicy.org.tr Website: www.avsam.org

Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation
(TESEV), Bankalar Cad. No 2, K3,
34420, Karakoy, Istanbul,
Tel: 0212-2928903, Fax: 0212-2929046
Website: www.tesev.org.tr
Centre for Advanced Strategy,
Kuleli Sok. No. 44/2, GOP Ankara.
Tel: 0312-4375672, Fax:4375673.
Website: www.yuksekstrateji.org

Major Tourist attractions: The country is full of Hittite, Hellenistic and Roman period architectural
monuments. Istanbul, Antalya, Izmir, Pamukkale, Trabzon and Bodrum are among many major
tourist destinations.

Major art forms/ cultural traditions and venues/ museums :

- Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Ankara

- Ethnographical Museum, Ankara
- Museum of Natural History, Ankara
- St. Sophia Museum (Aya Sophia), Istanbul
- Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul
- Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque), Istanbul

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Major Newspapers/Magazine/TV Channels with contact details :

Anadolu Ajansı (AA) Cumhuriyet

Haber Dairesi, Ic haberler Md. Serdar Dogan, Turkocağı Cad. No: 39/41
Dis haberler Md.-Ceyhun Erguven, 34334 Cağaloğlu-Đstanbul
Haber dairesi, Ankara. Tel: (0212)512 05 05 • Fax: (0212)513 85 95
Tel: (0312)231 70 00(19Lines) Fax:231 21 74, E-mail: postakutusu@cumhuriyet.com.tr
Haber dairesi fax: 2324394 URL: http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr
E-mail: aa1@anadoluajansi.com.tr
URL: http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr
Hürriyet Milliyet
Hurriyet Medya Towers Doğan Medya Center
34544 Gunesli-Đstanbul 34554 Bağcılar-Đstanbul
Tel: (0212)677 00 00; 677 03 44 • Fax: Tel: (0212)505 61 11 • Fax: (0212)505 62 33
(0212)677 03 40 URL: http://www.milliyet.com.tr
URL: http://www.hurriyet.com.tr E-mail: okur@milliyet.com.tr
Posta Radikal
Doğan Medya Center Doğan Medya Center 34554
34554 Bağcılar-Đstanbul Bağcılar-Đstanbul
Tel: (0212)505 61 11 • Fax: (0212)505 65 20 Tel: (0212)505 61 11; 505 65 87
E-mail: posta@simge.com.tr Fax:(0212)505 65 80; 505 65 92
URL: http://www.radikal.com.tr
Turkish Daily News Türkiye
Đran Cad. Karum Đs Merkezi No: 443 29 Ekim Cad. No: 23
Kavaklıdere-Ankara 34530 Yenibosna –Istanbul 5
Tel: (0312) 468 91 78; 468 99 85 Tel: (0212)454 30 00 • Fax: (0212)454 20 30
Fax: (0312)468 75 01 URL: http://www.turkiyegazetesi.com
URL: http://www.turkishdailynews.com
Today’s Zaman, ETV
Fevzi Cakmak, MH.A. Taner, Rıhtım Cad. No: 26
Kislal, Caddesi No.6, 34194, Kadıkoy-Đstanbul
Bahcelievler, Istanbul, Turkey. Tel: (0216)414 84 02 • Fax: (0216)414 7310
Tel: (0212) 4541444, Fax: (0212) 4541497, URL: http://www.eytv.com.tr
Website: www.todayszaman.com
Haber Türk NTV
Tevfik Bey Mah. 20 Temmuz Cad. No: 24 Eskibuyukdere Cad. Uso Center No: 59
Kucukcekmece-Đstanbul 80660 Maslak-Đstanbul
Tel: (0212)598 98 80 • Fax: (0212)598 9883 Tel: (0212)335 00 00 • Fax: (0212)330 0050
URL: http://www.haberturk.com.tr E-mail: ntv@ntv.com.tr
URL: http://www.ntv.com.tr
Turkish Radio and Television CNN Türk
Corporation (TRT) Hurriyet Medya Towers
TRT Sitesi Turan Gunes Bul. 34544 Gunesli-Đstanbul
Cankaya-Ankara Tel: (0212)478 50 00
Tel: (0312)490 43 00 Fax: (0212)478 58 05; 478 58 55
Fax: (0312)490 1109; 490 44 94 URL: http://www.cnn.com.tr
URL: http://www.trt.net.com.tr

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II. INDIA-TURKEY RELATIONS

During the Turkish War of Independence, the people of India contributed funds for the Turkish
cause – which was partly used to train and assist the Turkish Army and partly for establishing the
first Turkish bank (Isbank). Diplomatic relations between India and Turkey were established in
1948.

Political Relations: Bilateral relations are characterized by warmth and cordiality. The two
countries share common values including commitment to secularism and democratic principles.
Indian economic progress and technological advancement have been instrumental in recent
upsurge in interest towards India in Turkey.

Important Bilateral Treaties and Agreements: Bilateral Trade Agreement (1973), Agreement to
set up the Joint Economic Commission at Ministerial Level (1983), Civil Aviation Agreement
(1986), Doubel Taxation Avoidance Agreement & Agreement on Tourism Cooperation (1995),
Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (1998), Agreement on Prevention of
Illicit Trafficking in Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (1998), MOU between CSIR and
Turkish S&T Research Institute (TUBITAK) (1998), MOU between National Centre of Trade
Promotion and Export Promotion Centre of Turkey on exchange of Trade Information (1998), MOU
on the Establishment of a Political Consultation Mechanism between MEA and Turkish MFA
(2000), MOU on Cooperation in Agriculture (2000), MOU on Cooperation in the Railway Sector
(2000), Extradition Treaty (2001), Agreement on Tourism Cooperation (2002), MOU on Bilateral Air
Services Agreement (2003), Agreement for Cooperation in S&T (2003), Protocol on Cooperation in
IT and Computer Software (2003), Protocol for setting up a JWG on Combating Terrorism (2003),
MOU for Cooperation in the Field of Oil & Natural Gas (2005), Agreement for mutual exemption of
visa requirement for holders of diplomatic passports(2008).

Bilateral visits: Maulana Azad, as Minister of Education, was the first Indian dignitary to visit
Turkey in 1951. The visit of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru in 1960 was the first Prime Ministerial visit. Visits
of Prime Minister Turgut Ozal to India in 1986 and Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to Turkey in 1988
ushered in intensive interaction. This was followed by the visits of Turkish President General
Kenan Evren (1989), Indian President Shankar Dayal Sharma (1993), Turkish President Suleyman
Demirel (1995), President K.R. Narayanan (1998), Vice-President Krishan Kant (1998), Prime
Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (2003) and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (2008).

Commercial and Economic Relations: Institutional arrangement in terms of Joint Economic

Commission, Joint Working Group on Trade and Economic Issues and Joint Business Council
exists.

India-Turkey Bilateral Trade (in US$ million)

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

India’s Export 564.0 718.8 1043 1,274.4 1,579.0 2,300.0 2457.48
Turkey’s export 69.5 71.4 136 219.8 222.0 347.0 543.0
Total 633.5 790.2 1179 1,494.2 1,801.0 2,647.0 3000.48

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The major items of India’s exports to Turkey include cotton yarn, synthetic yarn, organic dyes,
organic chemicals, denim, steel (bars and rods), granite, antibiotics, carpets, unwrought zinc,
sesame seed, TV CRTs, mobile handsets, clothing and apparel.

Turkey’s exports to India includes poppy seed, auto components, marble, textile machinery,
denim, carpets, cumin seeds, minerals (vermiculite, perlite and chlorites) and fittings and steel
products.

Indian companies in Turkey:

More than 60 Indian companies have registered businesses in Turkey in the form of joint ventures,
trade and representative offices.

IRCON undertook railway projects in nineties. Kalpataru, in association with Barmek, a Turkish
company undertook electricity transmission projects in Turkey in 2003.

Punj Lloyd, in association with LIMAK, a Turkish construction company, constructed a segment of
the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline.

An Indian company Polyplex set up a polyplex film manufacturing factory in Chorlu, Turkey in 2005
with a total capital investment of US $ 60 million. The production from the factory is utilized mostly
for exporting to West European countries and partly to Turkish market.

Indo-Rama Group started a production unit for polyester fibre.

TATA Motors have an existing tie-up with Mesin Limited of Isotlar Group for marketing and after
sale service for TATA vehicles in Turkey. For past few years, they have been selling TATA Pickup
vehicles in Turkey. In February 2005, TATA Motors launched their Passenger Vehicles in Turkey.
This included TATA Indica and TATA Indigo models. TATA Motors has started an Assembly Unit in
Adana for assembly of TATA buses primarily for export to Middle East.

Mahindra & Mahindra has formed a joint venture marketing network with ILCE Otomotiv Servis ve
Ticaret A.S. for its utility vehicles and tractors in Turkey. Approval for utility vehicles has been
obtained.

Limak Constructions, a consortium of GMR Infrastructure Ltd and Malaysia Airport Holding won a
BOT contract of Euro 1.932 bn for building a new international passenger terminal at the Sabiha
Gokcen Airport in Istanbul.

Industrial houses such as Reliance, Ispat, Aditya Birla Group etc have established their trading
offices in Turkey to look for opportunities in the market here.

Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd(TAFE), a Chennai-based company of the Amalgamations group,
has announced on October 13 2008 that it plans to set up a tractor manufacturing plant in Turkey.
This $ 20 million plant to be operational in 2009 and this plant will have an initial capacity of 15,000
units/year.

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The Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), in collaboration with Çalik Enerji of Turkey, was granted
license for establishing an oil refinery with a capacity of 15 million tons a year in Ceyhan,
envisaging a total investment of approx. US$ 5 billion. The project would primarily focus on
exports to the European markets and the USA.

S&T Relations, cooperation in other fields such as Railways, Space, IT, Biotechnology,
Infrastructure, Mining : MOU between CSIR and TUBITAK, MOU between NCTP and IGEME,
MOU for agricultural cooperation, Agreement on cooperation in S&T, Protocol on cooperation in IT,
MOU on Cooperation in Oil & Natural Gas.

Education cooperation: Ankara University and Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi; and
Viswa Bharti University (Santiniketan) and Boazıcı University (Istanbul) have entered into MoU for
cooperation in 2000.

Under the auspices of ICCR, since 1995 an Indian professor in Hindi language has been attached
on deputation with the Department of Indology in Ankara University. Two Turkish language
professors have been sent to JNU and Jamia Milia Islamia University to teach Turkish.

Yuce College in Ankara has tied up with M/s APTECH for offering IT training courses in different
Turkish cities under APTEC brand name. Presently, courses are offered in Ankara, Istanbul and
Denizli.

NIIT has started a similar venture at smaller scale in Istanbul. NIIT has provided its services in
setting up an Information Technology lab at the Bahcesehır University in Istanbul.

ITEC Assistance and programmes: 40 ITEC scholarships annually are earmarked for Turkey.
Utilization has been very good.

Details of Indian credit Lines / Official Assistance: Nil

Exchange of Cultural Troupes

From India:

Rajasthan Folk Dance Group from 25th January to 31st January, 2000 – ICCR.

Visit of 10-member “Karagam Dummy Horse Folk Dance Group” led by Mr. Nadirao Raju Rao,
from 22-24th October, 2000 – ICCR.

Visit of 13-member “Avishkar” (folk dance group from Gujarat) led by Kalpesh Babubhai Dalal from
22-27 January, 2001 – ICCR.

Visit of 11-member UP Folk Dance Group led by Ms. Ruchi Anurag Telang from 29th September to
5th October, 2001 – ICCR.

Visit of 5-member Bharatnatyam Dance troupe led by Ms. Meenakshi Chitharanjan from 3-5
February, 2003 – ICCR.

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Visit of 8-member Sufiana Kathak Dance Group led by Ms. Vaishali Trivedi from 20-23 August,
2003.

Visit of four-member Bharatnatyam Dance Troupe led by Dr. Ragini Chandrasekhar and three-
member music troupe led by Santoor Player Shri O.P. Chaurasia in September, 2003 –ICCR.

Visit of 15-member Bhangra/Giddha Dance Troupe led by Mr. Ashwini Kumar from 18-23 April,
2004 –ICCR.

Visit of a Kuchipudi Folklore Dance Group in June 2005.

Visit of 9-member Bharathanatyam troupe sponsored by ICCR and led by Ms. Prathibha Prahlad
and Sitar Maestro Prateek Chowdhury visited Istanbul, Bursa, Izmir in May 2008.

From Turkey: A group of whirling Dervishes participated in Jahan-e-Khusro festival in India in

February 2003 and 2004. Another troupe visited India in October 2007.

Student Exchange Programmes: Four scholarships under ICCR scheme are granted each year
to Turkish students for pursuing UG/PG degree courses and research work.

Any Sister City relations with India: None

Important streets, public places named after Indian leaders: Mahatma Gandhi Street, Rajiv
Gandhi Street and Rabindranath Tagore Street, all in Ankara.

Types of visas issued (by Turkish Embassy in New Delhi), and visa details for officials, students,
business people, tourists, etc. from India.

S.N. Type of visa India from Turkish nationals Turkey from Indian nationals
1. Tourist $40/- (6 months) Multiple entry, $45/- / Rs.2200/- Single entry
$65/-(1 year) Multiple entry
2. Transit $20/- (15 days) Single/Double entry $ 45/- / Rs. 2200/- Single entry
$ 90/- / Rs.4400/- Double entry
$150/- / Rs.7200/- Multiple entry
3. Business $120/- (1 year Multiple entry) Single/Transit or Multiple entry

4. Student visa $75/- (upto 5 years or for the Single entry/ Transit/ Multiple
duration of the course, which ever is entry
less)
5. Employment Visa $ 100/- (for 6 months) Multiple entry Work Permit – Multiple entry
$ 140/- (for 1 year) Multiple entry.
$ 220/- (for more than 1 year and
upto 5 years)
5. All other visas $80/- (for 6 months) Multiple entry
$120/- (for 1 year) Multiple entry.

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Air links with India/Convenient Travel Routes: Direct daily flights operated by Turkish Airlines
between Istanbul and New Delhi and between Istanbul and Mumbai. Other connections are
through Dubai.

Indian Banks: State Bank of India opened its Representative Office in Istanbul in 2006. Addresses
of branch offices of other Indian Government and Public Sector organizations, Chambers of
Commerce, etc.: Nil.

Name, Address and contact details of Indian Culture Centres: None

Links to local organizations dealing with India: Websites of TOBB (Union of Chambers
& Commodity Exchanges of Turkey) and Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) of
TOBB given below:

http://www.tobb.org.tr http://www.deik.tr

Estimated NRI/PIO population: Nearly 342 Indian Nationals, mostly in Istanbul working in
commercial organizations, banks, computer firms, IT sector and as lecturers in Universities in
Turkey .

Important NRI/PIO Associations and their contact details: Friends of India Association,
Istanbul.

Major Indian ethnic papers / TV channels with contact details: None

NRI/PIOs holding significant public offices: None.

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14 August 2009

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