Economy Ministry

Turkey received over $4.9 billion in net foreign direct investment (FDI) during the first half of 2017, with the European Union being the top investor again, Economy Ministry data released on Aug. 22 revealed.        
Foreign investment in Turkey decreased by 8 percent during the January-June period this year compared with the same period of 2016, it showed.        

The business volume of Turkish contractors worldwide reached approximately $220 billion during the last 10 years, data from the Economy Ministry revealed on Aug. 11.        

The contractors ranked second in the world after China, taking up 4,152 projects overseas between 2008 and 2017.        

Turkey will meet top representatives from Booking.com over an economic and commercial formula which may end a controversy over the website's unfair competition moves, according to a top economy official.

The Economy Ministry has called a halt to the practice of restaurants and tavernas topping up the olive oil bottles on their tables from a source in the kitchen, saying it poses a hygiene risk to customers.

As of January 1, 2018, food service enterprises will be banned from using reusable bottles on their tables and will be forced to provide branded olive oil only.

Long-drawn-out court cases to determine who owns the assets of Serbia's 50 or so spas - many of which are run down - are slowing down their announced sale.

Serbia's Ministry of Economy told BIRN that litigation is ongoing between the state fund for pension and disability insurance, PIO, and the spas and the state over the PIO's percentage of ownership of the assets of the spas.

Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci has said an e-commerce and logistics zone will be established next to Istanbul's third airport, which is currently under construction, while signaling new automotive investments and exports in the country. 

The Economy Ministry stated on July 10 that it did not request an event in Austria marking the first anniversary of Turkey's July 2016 coup attempt, amid reports that Austria had barred Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci from entering the country to attend such an event. 

Romania's ruling Social Democratic Party is set to announce a new government on Wednesday after a two-week-long political crisis that raised questions over stability and threatened the economy.  

Serbia's parliament is holding a session on Saturday in which the only item on the agenda is changes to the Law on Ministries. According to the proposed changes, two new ministries will be formed - for environmental protection and European integration.

Turkey attracted $765 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) in April 2017, the Economy Ministry said on June 22.

According to a statement issued by the ministry, Turkey received $3.6 billion net of FDI between January and April this year, indicating an increase of 2 percent compared to the same period in 2016.