Since the beginning of operations abroad in the 1970s mainly in Libya and several Middle Eastern countries, Turkish construction sector has retained an upward trend.  Although last year's target of $25 billion was challenged by the economic crisis, the aim to reach this target persists this year. Turkish Contractors Association Chairman Erdal Eren pointed out that they started out this year's overseas construction services with 2008 target figures and said: "Due to economic crisis, this year's target is the same with last year's. We expect to exceed this target."

Turkish construction sector has become one of the leading exporters of construction services in the world. The sector competes with the largest construction companies in the international market due to its reliability, creativity and the cost advantage it offers. Turkish construction firms undertook over 4,600 projects worth some $136 billion in 70 countries between 1972 and 2008.

Within 36 years, Turkish contractors have carried out giant projects worth $130 billion in many different countries; namely Ireland, Sakhalin Island in Pacific Ocean, Ghana, Mali, Sierre Leone, Cameroon in Africa and India.

97 Projects in Turkmenistan

While the value of projects carried out by Turkish firms abroad was only $1.7 billion in 2002, this figure rose by a factor of 13 in six years, reaching $23.6 million in 2008.

On sectoral basis, the majority of these projects involved construction of buildings, highway, subways, bridges, social and cultural facilities, business centers, hospitals, power plants and urban infrastructures.

In terms of project costs, Turkmenistan comes in the first place with 97 projects valued at $5.4 billion undertaken. Turkmenistan was followed by Russia with 78 projects worth $3.4 billion and the United Arab Emirates with 26 projects worth $3.7 billion. Libya, the first overseas country the Turkish contractors worked, ranked fourth with 36 projects amounting to $2.7 billion.

Source: Referans Gazetesi