Turkey’s extensive coastlines make ferries and sea buses a popular form of domestic and international travel. Complete profile for Turkey. Once you get on to business, make sure that any proposal or presentation is clear and well-argued, and make use of visual aids where possible. Although the prices of goods and services appear low, many people who relocate and take up a Turkish wage find they are no better off than they would be at home. Interest rates and inflation have risen in the country in recent years, so anyone being paid in the local currency will need to keep an eye on this and ensure their salary rises to match. Long decline begins. © 2020 BBC. VideoThe voice of Johnson and Trump on Spitting Image, Africa's top shots: Hula-hooping at 60 and other feats, Avoiding war in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. Traditional dishes include kebabs and mezes, while the famous baklava pastry dessert originates in Turkey. 1960 - Army coup against ruling Democratic Party. However, the Turkish government is keen to encourage international students to study in the country so they have opened up several scholarship schemes to overseas applicants. There is also an elevated terror threat level across the rest of the country, including tourist areas, as a result of the ongoing hostilities so vigilance is to be encouraged. Income is taxed on a sliding scale depending on your earnings, with tax rates ranging from around 15% to 35%. National Sovereignty and Children’s Day: 23rd April, Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day: 19th May.

In July 2016, the AKP government survived an attempted coup which saw clashes on the streets of Istanbul and Ankara that left 256 people dead. Be aware that you must carry photo ID at all times. Tax is usually paid quarterly, although most employers will deduct it directly from your wages. A firm handshake is the standard business greeting in Turkey, and the most senior people are always greeted first. Required fields are marked *.

You will usually be asked for a deposit of up to three months’ rent to secure a rental property in Turkey. WHO Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion database; Environmental health.

For more information, visit the Social Security Institution website. Subordinate staff members are sometimes expected to stand when senior managers enter the room to show their respect in the same way that schoolchildren show their respect for a teacher. A referendum in April 2017 narrowly backed switching to a presidential system of government, which significantly increased Mr Erdogan's powers.

In the more popular tourist areas, some road signs are in English.

Some of the most repressive restrictions have been lifted on the path to EU entry, but it remains a crime to insult the Turkish nation and president, and a wave of prosecutions of journalists under Recep Tayyip Erdogan has prompted new concern for press freedom. 1952 - Turkey abandons Ataturk's neutralist policy and joins Nato. 1683 - Ottoman advance into Europe halted at Battle of Vienna. In 2012 the Turkish school system was significantly reformed. 1908 - Young Turk Revolution establishes constitutional rule, but degenerates into military dictatorship during First World War, where Ottoman Empire fights in alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary. Recep Tayyip Erdogan won a new term in elections in June 2018 and also gained substantial new powers under a new system approved the previous year by voters. Use titles and surnames until your Turkish contacts decide your relationship has progressed to first names. Qualifications and standards are monitored against the National Qualifications Framework for Higher Education, which was introduced in 2010 to help Turkey continue to raise the quality of its education system. Many companies are family-run and most are hierarchical in nature, and you may also notice some social class distinctions between the staff and management levels. Instead of a regular TV licence payment, the Turkish state broadcaster TRT receives a one-off payment from every purchase of a television set. The tuition fee scales for Turkish universities are defined centrally by the government ahead of each academic year, but it is up to the individual university as to how these fees apply. For example, the tax rate on books, basic foodstuffs and medical products is 8%, while for newspapers, magazines and agricultural supplies it drops to just 1%. As education is managed centrally, there tends to be little variation in term dates in state schools. Despite many people abstaining, alcohol is widely available. Euromonitor International is the leading provider of strategic market research reports. In general though, personal space is less important to Turkish people than most westerners – if you find yourself a little crowded then try not to back away as this may cause offence. Traditional Turkish coffee and black teas are the everyday drinks of choice. Domestic and international ferry routes are also available around the Aegean and Mediterranean coastal areas and on Black Sea routes. Date of Data: 31.12.2016 Source: Turkish Statistical Institute. Istanbul, which straddles Europe and Asia, is the largest city in the country, while Ankara is the ca… endstream endobj 330 0 obj <>/Metadata 64 0 R/Outlines 364 0 R/PageMode/UseOutlines/Pages 324 0 R/StructTreeRoot 78 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 331 0 obj <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 332 0 obj <>stream Vehicles are driven on the right-hand side of the road. WHO Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion database; Environmental health. Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders. Rice and bulgur are staple foods and popular meats include lamb, beef and chicken. Turkey country profile 10 July 2018 Once the centre of the Ottoman Empire, the modern secular republic was established in the 1920s by nationalist leader Kemal Ataturk. Most lessons are taught in Turkish, but again there are some exceptions. Turkey also observes a number of regional and religious holidays including the major Islamic festivals of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. To his supporters Mr Erdogan has brought Turkey years of economic growth, but to his critics he is an autocratic leader intolerant of dissent who harshly silences anyone who opposes him. Although employment law promotes equal opportunities, many women in Turkey choose not to work and the business world in Turkey can appear rather male dominated. Drivers must carry and be able to present their driving licence, vehicle registration document and insurance documentation at all times. Joining the European Union has been a longstanding ambition. However, places in state-run facilities can be limited, so parents may need to investigate more expensive private establishments or look at employing a childminder or nanny. Taxis are recognisable by their distinctive yellow liveries and are readily available in Turkish cities. This reports series gives a summary of political risk and the business environment and forecasts the prospects for the economy & likely future trends, allowing you to understand the macro-economic environment as a basis for strategic planning. The first semester starts in September and ends in January and the second begins in February and ends in June, usually with a break of about two weeks in between. Kurds make up about a fifth of the population. Some women prefer not to shake hands with men, so if a woman does not offer her hand first then simply make a verbal greeting instead. The voice of Johnson and Trump on Spitting Image. Turkey operates a limited visa exemption system which allows citizens from some countries to visit for between 28 and 180 days without a visa.

Turkey has ambitious plans for hydropower over the coming decade. The Turkish Labour Law defines the working week as a maximum of 45 hours per week spread evenly over five or six working days. Labour law states that employees are entitled to these dates as paid leave. Coronavirus disease outbreak (COVID-2019), Coronavirus disease outbreak (COVID-19) », WHO Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion database, Estimates on the use of water sources and sanitation facilities (WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme), WHO environmental burden of disease country profiles, Immunization surveillance, assessment and monitoring online country profiles, Immunization coverage country punchcard, 2000–2015, Review of National Immunization Coverage (WHO/UNICEF), Influenza laboratory-based surveillance: number of specimens positive for influenza by subtypes, Child mortality estimates, UN Inter-Agency Group on Child Mortality Estimation, Trends in Maternal Mortality (WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, The World Bank and the United Nations Population Division), Nutrition Landscape Information System (NLIS) indicator summary, WHO Global Database on vitamin A deficiency, WHO Global data bank on infant and young child feeding, WHO Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition, Resources for the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders. Country Profiles examine the economic and political trends in 210 countries. Soon afterwards it becomes secular. On the flip side though, the cost of imported goods and luxury items can be extremely high, so it can really pay to stick to the essentials. Private and public bus services serve most areas of Turkey well and the large numbers of competing companies keep prices down. Request a complimentary demonstration of our award-winning market research today. Turkey has invested quite significantly in building projects in recent years so whether you want an urban apartment or a country villa there are no shortage of places to live.

Foreign visitors may drive on a licence issued outside Turkey for up to 90 days and foreign nationals living in Turkey may use a valid foreign licence as long as it is accompanied by a notarised translation. Turkey: country profiles Chronic diseases. 2011 - Syrian civil war breaks out, resulting in tension along the countries' border and a huge influx of refugees into Turkey. 1984 - Kurdish PKK group launches separatists guerrilla campaign which develops into a major civil war that simmers on for decades. In Turkey, management tends to be more autocratic than in some countries. Despite a lack of competition in most areas, utility bills in Turkey tend to be fairly cheap. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

As a relatively large country, domestic air travel is important for both passenger and freight transport. He first came to power in 2003 in the wake of a sweeping electoral victory by the Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP), of which he was a founding member. 1918-22 - Partition of defeated Ottoman Empire leads to eventual triumph of Turkish National Movement in war of independence against foreign occupation and rule of Sultan. 381 0 obj <>stream 15th-16th centuries - Expansion into Asia and Africa. GB: 239-2559-40 Registered in England No. Today, Turkey is a secular republic which was founded in 1920 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who is considered the father of modern Turkey. Markets offer locally-sourced fruit, vegetables and staples like bread at extremely low prices which significantly drop the cost of living. When students complete their primary education, they take standardised exams to gain entry into one of two types of secondary school: general or vocational. Business dress in Turkey is largely formal, with men expected to wear a suit and tie and women similarly smart and professional-looking attire. The major international hub is in Istanbul, which is also home to national carrier Turkish Airlines.