"Turkey safe heaven for foreign investors"

The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Turkey will reach $12 billion by year-end, according to the International Investors Association (YASED). "Due to positive expectations, Turkey dissociates with the rest of the global economic habitat that is in a downward trend," said an annual report revealed by YASED yesterday. The main factors that persuade investors to put money into projects in Turkey are the magnitude of the market, the qualified labor force and the logistical advantages of the country, according to the report. YASED's Barometer Research, essentially a survey that interviews foreign investors, confirms that the Turkish economy will likely slow down in the next six months. Still, the study said, foreigners believe economic conditions in the country will continue to do well for investments. Fears of a possible second dip in the global economy are the main concern for foreign investors' future plans in Turkey, the barometer shows. Local economic fluctuations, the inability to complete structural reforms, unsustainable growth, local political undulances and bottlenecks in the EU negotiations are other possible risks, it said.