List of free zones of Turkey

Free Zones are defined as fenced-in areas in which special regulatory treatment exists for the operating users in order to promote exports of goods and services. Free Zones offer more convenient and flexible business climate in order to increase trade volume and export for some industrial and commercial activities as compared to the other parts of the country. Basic objectives of the Foundation and Operation of Free Zones are promoting export oriented investment and production, accelerating foreign direct investment and technology access, directing enterprises towards export, developing international trade. Below is the list of free zones of Turkey.

Free zones in Turkey

Name	Province	Foundation date
Mersin Free Zone	Mersin	1987
Antalya Free Zone	Antalya	1987
Ege Free Zone	İzmir	1990
İstanbul Atatürk Airport Free Zone	İstanbul	1990
Trabzon Free Zone	Trabzon	1992
İstanbul Leather Industry Free Zone	İstanbul	1995
East Anatolia Free Zone	Erzurum	1995
Mardin Free Zone	Mardin	1995
İstanbul Stock Exchange Free Zone (İMKB)	İstanbul	1997
İzmir Menemen Leather Free Zone	İzmir (Menemen)	1998
Rize Free Zone	Rize	1998
Samsun Free Zone	Samsun	1998
İstanbul Tracia Free Zone	İstanbul	1998
Kayseri Free Zone	Kayseri	1998
Adana Yumurtalık Free Zone	Adana (Yumurtalık)	1998
European Free Zone	Tekirdağ (Çorlu)	1999
Gaziantep Free Zone	Gaziantep	1999
Bursa Free Zone	Bursa	2001
Kocaeli Free Zone	Kocaeli	2001
Denizli Free Zone	Denizli	2002
Tubitak Free Zone	Kocaeli (Gebze)	2002

The European Free Trade Zone (EFZ) (www.asb.com.tr), İstanbul-Leather and Industrial Free Zone (www.desbas.com.tr) and Ege Free Zone (www.esbas.com.tr) are among the largest Free Zones in Turkey. Free Zones offer ready offices, warehouses, open stock areas, production facilities for rent or sale and lands with ready infrastructure. All kinds of infrastructure services (electricity, water, gas, waste water, purification, communication) are provided in these technocities. In addition to these facilitations, Free Zone such as European Free Zone (EFZ) also offers construction – undertaking services, catering, IT Services, Maintenance Services, Insurance, Loading/Unloading, Warehousing, Consulting Services, 24 hour Private Security and Conference Halls.

Incentives and advantages of Free Zones

Companies are %100 exempt from Corporate Tax (%20) and Income Tax (%15-%35).
Free Zones are considered to be outside of the customs border, no Customs Duty, Value Added Tax (VAT) or KKDF (%3 over the credit payments) is applied on the goods that enter the zone.
Companies that sell at least %85 of their products abroad are %100 exempt from the income tax payable over salaries of employees.
Due to the Custom Union Agreement between Turkey & EU, Turkish origin goods are in free circulation in EU Market (No Tax between TR & EU)
Companies can freely transfer their profits and earninings to Turkey or any other country.
As Free Zones are outside of the customs border, companies can purchase good from Turkey for export prices. (No VAT)
Infrastructure services are provided exempt from VAT (Electricity, water, Gas, telecommunication)
Companies are free to bring second hand (used) machinery to the Free Zones and there is no age limitations for the importation of second hand (used) machinery.
As the transactions within performed with convertible foreign currencies, domestic inflation rate will not influence purchasing and selling activities, inventory control and accounting procedures in general.
The faulty goods can easily be returned to their origin by just issuing an invoice.
Companies can keep their stock duty free for an unlimited period of time.