Oualified employees in Bursa bring investments

Finding a solution to Turkish industries' qualified employee problem, Bursa has attracted five investments from Germany. German companies have decided to make investments of €500 million ranging from energy to textile sectors.  Bursa, one of Turkey's major industry hubs, has shown that "education and training are essential" to attract direct foreign investments. Bursa Design and Technology Development Center (BUTGEM), which was established on the basis of complaints made by businesspeople about not finding qualified people to hire, has become popular among local and foreign businesspeople. Training the high school graduates and the 18-35-year old unemployed people, BUTGEM has managed to attract investments totaling €500 million for the city. Five German companies have decided to make investment in Bursa after they were guaranteed that they would find qualified employees. Ilhan Parseker, head of Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said investments were largely on energy and textile sectors. "As BUTGEM, we train employees demanded by the businesspeople. In the past, the unemployed couldn't find job and bosses were not able to find qualified personnel. We have found a solution to this problem. Thanks to this solution, foreign investors started to come to the city," Parseker said, adding that this meant Bursa's integration with the EU.