Turkey expands industrial zones to 373 locations

Turkey's number of Organized Industrial Zones (OSB) has reached 373 following the establishment of the Kepsut OSB in Balıkesir, according to Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır. This represents a significant increase from 191 zones recorded in 2002.

Employment within these industrial zones has grown from 415,000 in 2002 to 2.7 million today. Minister Kacır stated that these zones are being transformed into high-technology, value-added, and environmentally friendly production centers.

In Kırklareli, the local OSB is aiming to increase its annual export capacity, which currently stands at approximately $400 million. The zone, which hosts 87 licensed factories across sectors such as food, metal, and textiles, currently employs between 5,000 and 5,500 people. Officials expect future growth to potentially reach 13,000 employees and hundreds of factories, leveraging the region's strategic proximity to Istanbul and European borders.