About Izmir
Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey with a total land area of 12.762 km2 and a population of more than three million people. This city, which carries great significance as one of Turkey's most important socio-economic and cultural centres, also has within its borders the biggest Gulf to be found along the country's Aegean coast.

Izmir for Business
Izmir is approximately 12 thousand kilometer2 with a population of 3.4 million, making it the third largest city and the second largest industrialized city in Turkey. The Aegean Region is the most active and important area for the shipping sector and port operations. Almost 20% of the national exports are serviced the busy seaport of Izmir. The yearly loading capacity of 7 million tons will reach 11 million tons by the year 2005.
The multinational giants like General Motors, Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds, Citibank, FTC/Lockheed, Delphi (USA), Samsung(S.Korea) Karstadt and Hugo Boss(Germany), Akzo Nobel and AVEBE(Holland), ELDOR(Italy) ABB and Volvo(Sweden) located their investments and businesses in Izmir.
In this decade, the considerable advantages of Izmir have encouraged foreign investors to have a place in this re-emerging city. The Aegean Free Zone operating in the district of Gaziemir is the most successful free zone in Turkey with a trade volume of 1.8 billion dollars. It is located just 4 km. from the Port of Izmir. It is the only production oriented free zone in Turkey. The major industries in the free zone are electronics automotive, high technology products, food and packaging, textiles and machinery.
Among the top 500 Turkish industrial companies, 75 of them were Aegean firms in 2001. In particular, trade of food products, construction materials, textile products, forest products and furniture, chemicals, agricultural products accelerated the commerce in Izmir. Besides this, Izmir is taking leaps into the industrialization process that attracts investments in the sectors of tobacco, automotive, textile, electric-electronics and food. In the Aegean Region where over 6,000 industrial companies operate and 4,000 of them are located in Izmir.

Izmir for Pleasure
Izmir is located at the most western part of Turkey and as a result of this geographical position, a western style of life is combined with Turkish customs and habits.
This modern city retains traces of its ancient, Ottoman and Levantine past. Being the hub of the Levantine community, Izmir has long been a centre of culture and civilization where Judaism, Christianity and Islam have always co-existed peacefully.
Izmir is one of the cities where the education level is the highest in Turkey. Izmir has a share of 11.2% in the total number of schools of Turkey and a share of 11.62% in the total number of students. The young people of Izmir generally speak English as a second language.
Having long enjoyed a reputation as a cosmopolitan and cultural city, Izmir thrives in art and culture. The Izmir Cultural Center hosts opera, ballet and music performances. Every year the city holds the Izmir International and Turkish Festival, which invites both international and Turkish artists to perform at venues throughout the city.
When it comes to shopping, there is no shortage of variety. Izmir provides excellent shopping facilities, where you can buy antiques, jewelry, souvenirs, clothes traditional food and anything else that comes to mind.
Visitors will find a superb range of accommodation, restaurants and entertainment facilities. There are many museums, historical sites, recreational centers and the International Fair that make Izmir a paradise for tourists attracting not only local people but also visitors from all over the world.
Outside of Izmir, many other beautiful spots are well worth visiting. Those interested in nature can head off to Camaltı or Yamanlar Camlığı for bird watching or picnicking.
There are also many tourist places in the vicinity of Izmir such as Cesme, Foca, Kusadası, Bodrum, Ayvalık, Gumuldur and Dikili offering visitors unspoilt bays and beaches, a wide range of accommodation, restaurants, bars, discos and shopping facilities.