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urkey's Aegean Free Zone rests at a prime business location: the crossroads of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Nestled into the city of Izmir, The The Aegean Free Zone offers state of the art infrastructure, attractive financial incentives and an exceptional quality of life for western executives and their families.
   Izmir, Turkey's third- largest city and No. 1 exporting seaport, has been home to The Aegean Free Zone for more than 15 years, and is Turkey's first modern, production- based Free Zone. The AFZ, in fact, generates more foreign direct investment and employs more workers than any of Turkey's 20 other Free Zones. With its infrastructure- ready sites and ready- to- use manufacturing facilities, the master- planned industrial park is a site selection hotbed. Recent expansions by powerhouses like Hugo Boss, Hyundai and Delphi have swelled The AFZ's work force to more than 13,500 workers. Most impressively, in 2005 the zone generated more than US$3.7 billion in international trade.
   The Aegean Free Zone's singular success, however, is not at all surprising. With its strategic position and easy access to Europe and Asia, Turkey has long attracted U.S. and European businesses eager to establish a foothold in the region.
   Moreover, The Aegean Free Zone offers the arresting appeal of Izmir, a modern, European- style city that's strikingly beautiful and well organized. Much of Izmir was destroyed in Turkey's fight for liberation in the first half of the 20th century. When the city was subsequently rebuilt, attracting international investment was a central focus. That emphasis is clearly evident in today's Izmir, a city of palm- lined promenades, avenues and green parks, all set in sweeping curves along a circular bay. With its exceptionally mild climate and rich history, Izmir also offers an idyllic living environment. It's known, in fact, as "the Pearl of the Aegean."
   The Aegean Free Zone was founded in 1990 by Kaya Tuncer, a Turkish- American entrepreneur educated in the United States and a recipient of the Elvis Island Medal of Honor. Mr. Tuncer enhances the AFZ's appeal by offering foreign firms the same exacting design standards as in the U.S. and Western Europe. All sites in the Zone are provided on a turnkey basis, and they satisfy the most demanding tenant requirements, from form height, floor capacity and lighting to heating and ventilation.    • Manufacturing companies are exempt from corporate tax;
   • Free international transfer of earnings and revenues;
   • There is no VAT tax on Turkish goods and services for Aegean Free Zone users;
   • There are no duties or tariffs for goods imported into The AFZ from abroad;
   • Imports can remain in The AFZ without time limitations;
   • Direct sales are allowed to Turkey;
   • There are no limits on proportion of capital participation in the zone.
   Also of great appeal to western executives, The Aegean Free Zone has long stressed corporate security. The AFZ is a fenced- in development, staffed by its own police force of 40 uniformed officers who patrol the zone around the clock. Additionally, The AFZ has its own fire department, and customs officials at the entry gates.
   Naturally, The AFZ offers all the essential business basics, including electricity, water, telecommunications and natural gas. The AFZ supplies a wide array of supplemental services as well, including loading and unloading, equipment rental, stock control, construction, repair and maintenance, customs brokerage, and port- related services. They'll even provide assistance with your labor recruitment, drawing from the large local pool of young, skilled workers.
   With its exceptional amenities, outstanding quality of life and extraordinary strategic location, The Aegean Free Zone is expected to continue expanding at its record- setting pace as investors and companies flock to this idyllic location.