Turkey

During the 1980s, Turkey began a series of reforms, initiated by Prime Minister Turgut Özal which intended to change the economy from a static, insulated system to a more private-sector, market-based model. The country, which bridges the continental divide between Europe and Asia now teeters on the brink of EU membership. Geopolitically significant, it is also controversial, rapidly developing and forward-thinking.

Today, Turkey’s economy is no longer reliant on traditional agricultural activities in rural areas, but increasingly dependent on a highly dynamic industrial base in the major cities, mostly concentrated in the western provinces of the country, together with tourism and a developed professional services sector.

Turkey’s main trading partners include the European Union (52% of exports, 42% of imports as of 2005) the United States, Russia and Japan.