İZBAŞ CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD EYÜP SEVİMLİ: OUR MOMENTUM İN İNVESTMENT AND EXPORTS İS ON THE RİSE

Having closed 2025 with a transaction volume of 606 million dollars and exports of 270 million dollars, İzmir Free Zone (İZBAŞ) is among the leading export centers of İzmir and the Aegean.

While trial production has begun at one of the four major investments planned to become operational this year, the factory of wind turbine blade manufacturer TPI Composites, which unfortunately shut its doors last year, has put up the sign of Nordex, one of the global giants of the sector, and resumed the same production.

4 MAJOR INVESTMENTS

Speaking to Nasıl Bir Ekonomi about the investments planned and underway in the Zone, Eyüp Sevimli, Chairman of the Board of İZBAŞ İzmir Free Zone Founder and Operator Inc., said that trial production had begun at the compressor production facility of Chinese-capital Kaishan, built on an area of 22 thousand square meters, which is among the investments to be commissioned in 2026.

Sevimli stated that the factory investments of Gico Product Service Solutions and Alpar Metal, which produce for world-leading brands in the automotive supplier industry, as well as Roll Nova İzmir Demir Çelik, would also be commissioned in the second half of this year; he emphasized that companies focused on exports and producing high value-added products are at the center of their investment focus, and that they have held many investment talks in this direction.

OCCUPANCY RATE 90%

Sevimli stated that the occupancy rate across the Zone has reached 90 percent and noted that bureaucratic procedures are continuing for the 153-thousand-square-meter expansion land adjacent to İZBAŞ to officially obtain free zone status. Pointing out that they also aim to begin infrastructure works on this land, İZBAŞ Chairman of the Board Eyüp Sevimli added that once the expansion area becomes operational, allocations can easily be made to investors requesting investment areas of 20 thousand square meters or more.

Underlining that İZBAŞ is among the production centers with the best logistics opportunities not only in İzmir but also in Türkiye, Sevimli said, “We are located 30 to 40 kilometers from the Aliağa Nemrut ports and İzmir Alsancak Port. With the added value we create, our strategic location, sustainable investment climate and investor-friendly business environment, we are moving forward with firm steps toward becoming one of our country’s most important export centers. In free zones, figures are evaluated more according to the number of licenses obtained. There are 191 licensed companies in our Zone. Around 100 of them are engaged in production. There are also purchase-sale and leasing licenses. Among the production facilities, 20 provide a significant level of employment. As of today, we provide employment for 5 thousand people in the Zone.”

TURKISH FREE ZONES, THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE FOR CAPITAL HEADING TO THE GULF

“For many years, the Gulf countries had a structure that functioned like a free zone. The United Arab Emirates had all the advantages of a free zone. In addition, there were very well-functioning free zones within these countries. Developments following the attacks on Iran by the US-Israel alliance show that the environment of trust in this region has been very seriously damaged. An investor’s protective shield is neither the tax advantages provided nor cheap land. Rule of law and judicial independence at international standards are the most important guarantees for investors. Our free zones in Türkiye are the most important alternative for investors who have been harmed by developments in the Gulf region and have suffered a loss of confidence.

İZBAŞ IN BRIEF

• 1,620,000 m2 area
• Employment of over 5,000 people
• 191 companies: 166 domestic, 16 foreign, 9 domestic-foreign partnerships
• Provision of titled buildings and land
• Operator company managed in compliance with ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, ISO 27001:2017 and ISO 50001:2018 standards

Integrated with İzmir Port, Aliağa Nemrut Ports, İzmir Ring Road & Northern Aegean Motorway