Turkey attracted $4.9 billion worth of net foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first five months of 2015, according to the Economy Ministry. Moreover, $846 million in FDI was made in Turkey in May alone. The Economy Ministry announced the injection of foreign capital totaled $3.5 billion between January and May, while the effective FDI realized was 4.9 billion in the same period. According to the ministry, $1.3 billion of the foreign capital was invested in the energy sector and $572 million was invested in manufacturing. A total of 44 percent of the FDI was from EU member countries, while 30 percent was from Asian countries. The Economy Ministry also announced that 169 companies were established with foreign capital in May, while nine domestic companies received foreign capital participation. By the end of May, the number of internationally funded companies established in 2015 reached 1,797, and these operate largely in the wholesale and retail sector as well as the real estate, logistics, communication and storage services sectors
Between January and May, 52 foreign-funded companies had registered capital of more than $500,000. A total of 23 of these companies are in the wholesale and retail sector, while 11 are in the manufacturing sector. Of the 1,797 foreign-funded companies established, 938 are partnered by Middle Eastern investors, 436 by EU-based investors and 118 by other European investors.
More than $315.8 million worth in investments are expected to be made through 21 projects as part of the investment incentive certificate issued by the Economy Ministry in May 2015. Along with the previous investments, the number of documented projects in 2015 will reach 102, amounting to $11,931 billion. Separately, according to data from the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), the total number of companies and cooperatives established in Turkey in the first six months of the year was 35,625, increasing 18.12 percent compared to the same period the previous year. One-third of those companies established in Turkey in the first half of the year comprised Syrian and Iranian companies.
