Ekrem Imamoglu, mayor of Istanbul, speaks at the inauguration ceremony of an agency in Istanbul, Turkey, Feb. 17, 2020. An investment agency was launched on Monday to make Istanbul, Turkey's economic hub that accounts for one-third of the whole gross domestic product, an attraction spot for foreign investors. (Xinhua)
ISTANBUL, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- An investment agency was launched on Monday to make Istanbul, Turkey's economic hub that accounts for one-third of the whole gross domestic product, an attraction spot for foreign investors.
"Istanbul is stepping up to the global stage," Ekrem Imamoglu, mayor of Istanbul, said at the inauguration ceremony of the agency in Istanbul.
"The agency's founding goal is to turn Istanbul into a city that attracts more international investments and entrepreneurs, as well as foreign talents," he noted.
According to the mayor, the new platform will determine and promote Istanbul's local dynamics to appeal to foreign investors in a wide range of sectors, including finance, technology, and tourism, with a "win-win spirit."
The mayor also pledged to make the city a center of high technology, by significantly supporting software companies and coding firms.
"We will also focus on mass transportation investments, particularly increasing metro lines," Imamoglu said, highlighting the importance of new urban planning investments.
Nihat Narin, head of the agency, for his part, invited international funds, entrepreneurs, private capital groups, and "anyone who wants to invest in Istanbul" to contribute to the development of the city with a population of 16 million.
Narin said that the transformation process in Istanbul, which has begun after the local elections held last year, created a positive atmosphere for the investors.
"With its 712 hotels, 238 hospitals, and 61 universities, hosting over one million students, Istanbul is waiting for new investments," he added.
Istanbul lures around 15 million tourists each year, and it is one of the top 10 tourist destinations in the world and the third most traveled destination in Europe, Narin noted.
