1-Young and Dynamic Population

2- Large and Rapidly Expanding Market

3- Low Cost and Qualified Labour

4- Developed Infrastructure for Industry and Commerce

5- Easy Land, Air and Maritime Transportation

6- Favourable Soil and  Multi Climatic Richness for High Quality Agricultural Production

7- Proximity to Asian and European Markets

8- High Potential Created in The Automotive Industry

9- Potential to Evelop Alternative Tourism Areas in The Region

10- Friendly Hospitality and Support From The Local Community

10 REASONS TO INVEST IN SAKARYA

Investment Promotion

Below is a list of some investment sectors Government promotes in Sakarya, up to US $3.3 Million;

Mining and Quarrying

Agriculture, Food and Beverages Sector

Livestock Investments

Manufacture of Textile Products

Tanning and Dressing of Leather

Paper and Paper Products

Drugs / Pharmaceuticals And Medical Products Used in Manufacture of Chemicals

Manufacture of Rubber

Machinery and Equipment

Manufacture of Electrical Machinery and Apparatus

Radio, Television and Communication Equipments

Motor Vehicles and Related Industry

Investment in Hospitals, Rest Houses

Hazardous Waste Reducing and Disposal Facilities

Support Elements:

Customs Duty exemption and the Housing Fund,

Investment allowance,

Tax exemption,

Taxes and duties exemption,

Credit allocation.

Development Agency

T. R. East Marmara Development Agency  is the Turkish Government’s Development Cooperation Agency. Sakarya is in the TR-42 Region.

Defining development needs and targets as well as possible areas of cooperation and assistance while taking into consideration our nation’s priorities,

Preparing required programs and projects or facilitating preparation by private sector organisations,

Improving economic, commercial, technical, social, cultural and educational cooperation through projects and programs,

Strengthening independent government bodies,

Supporting efforts to transition to a market economy.

Technopolis

Sakarya- Technopolis was founded in 2009 to support the formation and development of high-tech using-producing firms to ensure the development of technology, and to maximize the university-industry cooperation. In addition to that making contributions to the studies that aim to enable the transmission of the results of university research into economic values and to contribute the improvement of international competitive power of the country by way of increasing the economic and technological level were also targeted.

Qualified Human Resources

The Educational Institutions and Public Institutions in our region regularly arrange vocational training programs supported by Turkish Republic and the European Union. While the human resources being the biggest problem for investors, it is being an opportunity to make our region a center of attraction since all the institutions are using all of their resources for trainings and educational activities for qualified staff.

The availability of high-low level trained staff  in various sectors and the presences of primaliy the university, several vocational training institutions for qualified workers, apprenticeship training center, the development courses of chambers and municipalities  make Sakarya advantageous  in the quality of human resources.

The environment which is appropriate for university- industry collaboration with 50,000 the number of students and the strong infrastructure of Sakarya University creates plenty of qualified staff. The number of students having vocatioanl training in Sakarya University is above the average in Turkey which is significantly a source for qualified staff  for the factories.

Logistical Advantages

New and highly developed technological infrastructure in transportation, telecommunications and energy

Well-developed and low-cost sea transport facilities

Railway transport advantage to Central and Eastern Europe

Well established transportation routes and direct delivery mechanism to most of the EU countries

Transportation

Sakarya has an important geographical location opportunity since it is in the Marmara region, 164 km far from Istanbul and  on the way at the crossroads of Istanbul-Ankara and Istanbul-Antalya route. As a result of its geographical location, the region is the opening door to both Europe and Asia countries with connections by highway, airway, railway. Karasu Harbour is a door to Black Sea, Marmara Sea and Mediterranean Sea. Sakarya is 170km far from İstanbul Yeşilköy International Airport and  110 km far from İstanbul Kurtköy Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.

Energy

Sakarya has highly developed infrastructure since it has easement of access to energy sources as natural gas, electricity and fuel.  Infrastructure has enough continuous capacity with the latest technology; stormwater drainage network, sewage network, drinking water networks, electricity networks, telecommunication networks and lighting infrastructure. ENKA Construction & Industry Co. Inc, has a energy power plant in Sakarya, producing %16,2 electric energy of Turkey.

Tourism

Sakarya is an undiscovered tourism gem. Sakarya has a rich natural resources such as the sea shore and beach that goes to Black Sea Region, lakes, valleys, canyons, forests, hot springs, drinkable spring waters and many other natural resources that makes the city a special location in the region. Karasu is a natural beach with it’s rheumatism healing  sands and clean water. Botagzi is where the Sakarya River meets Black Sea and a must-see spot of the area. Kocaali Town is one of the most visited town of the area because of having healing sands, natural beaches and for it’s easy transportation. On the shore of Sapanca Lake there are some private managed beaches and a public beach as well. Oil Wrestling (traditional Turkish Sport) has a quite large  substructure and popularity in Sakarya. The oil wrestling were introduced and discovered by international and national media more and more which is another factor of the tourism  presentation in the area. Akyazı - Akbalık oil wrestling and Sapanca - Karakucak oil wrestling festivals takes an important place in this aspect..The main attractions are the Sapanca lake, the Justinianus Bridge, the Kuzuluk spa, the Karasu-Kocaali coasts, the Sakarya river and the Sogucak high plateau.The area 6  lakes, 22 high plateaus, 3 hot springs, historical monuments and houses and offers possibilities for a wide range of activities such as hunting, rafting,6  trekking areas, jogging, beach volley, carting, off-road and 3 motorcross areas.

Where to Go /  What to Eat

10 Must-See Places in Sakarya

Sapanca Lake, Sapanca

Taraklı Houses, Old Turkish Houses, Taraklı

Justinianus Bridge, Serdivan 

II. Bayezıt Bridge,  Geyve

Acarlar Lake, the second largest flooded forest in Turkey

Sakarya Museum ( Atatürk’s House) and Kuva-yı Milliye Museum

Kuzuluk Thermal Waters, Akyazı

Harmantepe Castle, Söğütlü

Çiğdem Plateau, Hendek

Maden Waterfall, Karasu

The Cuisine of Sakarya

Below is the list of the most known dishes:

Wet meat-ball

Pumpkin Dessert with Milk

Pastry with Pumpkin

Circassian Chicken

Circassian Cake with Cheese

Mashed Beans