TIM announced the results of the survey that analyzed the export performance of the last quarter of 2011 and projections for the first quarter of 2012. The growth expectation for 2012 is 7.28 %.

The surveys conducted by the Turkish Exporters Assembly for two years and citing projections by exporters from production to employment, currency exchange rates and exports shall be continued in this year. The results of the survey regarding the performances of the last quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012 were disclosed at a press conference at TIM’s Foreign Trade Complex on the 10th of February.

In his evaluation of the survey results, TIM President Mehmet Büyükeksi noticed that export companies had been more prudent in export and production than in the past. However, he was surprised himself by the growth projections of 7.28 % for the end of 2012:

“My personal expectation is 5 % but the companies that took part in the survey predicted 7.28 %. In last year’s survey, we had almost hit the bull’s eye with our forecast of 8.6 %. It seems that the growth of 2011 will be 8.3 %. We should not overlook the expectation of growth for this year.” According to the survey, the average number of staff to be employed by a company in 2012 is 9, which adds up to approximately 180,000 new employees by the end of the year. Mr.Büyükeksi called for companies to be more active in hiring R&D employees. Reminding that in 2012 Eximbank will be offering exporters credit opportunities at more favorable conditions than the rest of the market in addition to insurance for export products, Mr.Büyükeksi thought “Our exporting companies ought to make use of these advantages.”

Companies struggling in Europe’s debt-ridden economies look to Turkey for salvation. A delegation consisting of Italy’s leading industrialists under the organization of Confindustria took a trip to Turkey last week to seek partnership and cooperation opportunities, as well as to prepare ground for a larger gathering in May, the Turkish-Italian Business Forum.

Thirteen representatives from Confindustria led by Paolo Zegna visited Turkey’s various business bodies; the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (MUSIAD), the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) and the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) for cooperation in the machinery, food, consumer goods, construction-infrastructure and banking sectors. Turkish-Italian partnerships for dealing with projects in third country markets were also on the table.

Last week’s preparatory meetings will be followed by the Turkish-Italian Business Forum with a much larger attendance. Some 60 Italian companies are expected to take part in the forum, which is scheduled to take place in Istanbul on May 2-3.

The trade volume between Turkey and Italy reached USD 17 billion in 2011. Over 900 Italian companies are active in Turkey.

Source : Star

Turkish defense company Kale Aero, formerly known as Kale Havacilik, is set to produce turbojet engines for Turkey’s defense related projects. The subsidiary of the Kale Group signed a USD 25 million contract with the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries under the Ministry of National Defense to produce jet engines to power Turkey’s aircraft and missile projects.

Under the terms of the contract, Kale Aero will manufacture the first turbojet engine within 48 months to be used in SOM cruise missiles. Developed by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), the SOM weapon system is Turkey’s first indigenous cruise missile. Locally produced turbojets will replace the French-made engines currently used in SOM and will lay the foundation for an integrated jet engine design and production capability for future projects, according to the ministry officials who were present at the signing ceremony.

Catering for the needs of Turkey’s defense and aerospace industry since 1989, privately-owned Kale Aero manufactures engine and aircraft parts for Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Goodrich and Pratt & Whitney. The company is also a subcontractor for US company Lockheed Martin’s next generation Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.

Source : Hurriyet