Category: Business

AMA Ready To Partner Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality

Dr Oko Vanderpuije, Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), has expressed the Assembly’s desire to partner with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality to improve the standard of living of Ghanaians.

Dr Vanderpuije made the assurance when the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) in Turkey, Dr Kadir Tophas paid a courtesy call on him in Accra to express his commitment to strengthen cordial relationship for the benefit of Ghana and Turkey. Dr Vanderpuije said the AMA has drawn up programmes and policies targeted to enable the people to overcome the challenges such as transportation, drainage and sewerage systems.

He said the general urban development of the metropolis was a cardinal part of the Better Ghana Agenda of the government and it was on this premise that he would ensure a strong partnership with Istanbul to make the dream of making Accra a Millennium City come true.

The MCE gave the assurance that the new Accra would see the prevention of further slum development as well as indiscriminate citing of containers and kiosks while the existing structures would be improved.

He said the visit of the Mayor of Istanbul marked the beginning of partnership between the two municipalities adding that; “we have opened today a new chapter and would ensure that this historic visit would not remain a mere declaration since the AMA was resolved to play its role effectively to change the city.”

Dr Vanderpuije praised the Turkish Government and the Istanbul Mayor, Dr Tophas for supporting AMA for more development in Ghana.

Dr Tophas in his response announced a 300-million dollars package for Ghana and indicated that the recent visit by President John Dramani Mahama to Turkey was highly appreciated and had strengthened the cooperation between the two countries.

He said the future of Ghana was bright because of its aim to promote peace, ensure stability and protect its democratic gains.

The Mayor of Istanbul noted that Ghana had made gains in the development of the country and he felt obliged to contribute to the welfare of the people of Ghana.

Dr Tophas said Turkish attached great importance to the development of Ghana hence the need for “my visit to sign a cooperation protocol and make sure the relationship between the two countries become a reality.”

“I will be more than happy to share our development with Ghana and Turkey to find practical and responsible solutions to the city’s numerous challenges,” he said.

Source: GNA

via AMA Ready To Partner Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality – Oko Vanderpuije.

February 5, 2013
Turkey Sees ‘Huge’ Clean-Energy Investment as Demand Bucks Trend

BERLIN — Turkey expects “huge” investments in renewable power in the next 10 years as growth in energy demand outpaces economic expansion, a government official said.

Turkey needs to spend $10 billion on new power generation every year until 2023 to double capacity from the current 55 gigawatts, Deputy Energy Minister Hasan Murat Mercan said today at a conference in Vienna.

“We expect huge investments in the coming years” to fund projects in wind, solar, hydropower, biomass and geothermal energy, he said. “Investing in renewables is one of the most important aspects” of supporting economic growth, he said.

Turkey, which depends on fossil-fuel imports for about 90 percent of its energy needs, has lured international investors including General Electric Co. and Siemens AG to its power industry as the regulator forecasts annual demand growth of 6.3 percent in the next two decades. The country is bucking the trend of most emerging European nations, where retail electricity consumption is trailing growth in incomes.

GE, which has already opened the 22.5-megawatt Sares wind farm and 10-megawatt Karadag site, said in November it would also supply turbines to Fina Enerji Holding AS for 97 megawatts of projects. Siemens said in October it would supply turbines to a 50-megawatt wind farm and expects more Turkish orders.

Turkey has potential to install about 40,000 megawatts of wind-power capacity at onshore projects, with 11,000 megawatts already licensed, Mercan said today.

While economic growth fell to 1.6 percent in the third quarter, Turkey forecasts 4 percent growth in 2013, compared with a 0.2 percent contraction in the euro area, based on International Monetary Fund projections.

Copyright 2013 Bloomberg

Lead image: Turkey map via Shutterstock

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Bioenergy, Geothermal Energy, Hydropower, Solar Energy, Wind Power

via Turkey Sees ‘Huge’ Clean-Energy Investment as Demand Bucks Trend | Renewable Energy News Article.

February 5, 2013
World’s biggest airport planned for Istanbul, Turkey

Bigger than Heathrow: the plan behind the world’s biggest airport

Turkey is aiming to make a major mark in the skies with ambitious plans to build the world’s largest airport and a vast expansion of the national airline as it seeks increasingly to build on its strong emerging status to become a global player.

Boasting an airport twice the size of Heathrow and a fleet of modern aircraft, Turkey could pose a threat to struggling European airlines as well as fast growing Gulf carriers.

Key to the plans is the construction of a six-runway airport in Istanbul eventually capable of handling 150 million passengers per year.

The Turkish government has launched a tender to build the 7-billion-euro ($A9.12 billion) airport that from 2016 would position the country to become a major hub for traffic between Asia, Europe and increasingly Africa.

“The construction of the giant airport is a clear sign telling the airlines to grow and keep up,” Emre Akcakmak, a senior analyst from Sweden-based East Capital, said.

Flag-carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) is expected to make use of the opportunity by nearly doubling its fleet and expanding the destinations it serves by 50 per cent.

The airline, twice selected as the best European airline, posted a 20-per cent rise in passengers last year to 39 million.

It aims to reach 46 million passengers in 2013, generating a turnover of $US9.7 billion ($A9.3 billion).

However it badly needs the new airport as Istanbul’s two current airports are nearly stretched to capacity.

THY is widely expected to add to its fleet of 204 Airbus and Boeing planes by placing an order for about 150 new fuel-efficient aircraft, securing a place among the world’s top 10 airlines.

That would allow the airline to expand the number of destinations it serves to 300 by 2020, banking on its location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, as well as good access to Africa.

“We are making superb use of an excellent geography. We can fly most places in profitable, narrow-body single-aisle planes,” company CEO Temel Kotil said.

That shows in its operating margin. A key factor of profitability for airlines is the amount of seat capacity offered, and the percentage of those seats occupied.

In the first nine months of 2012 THY boasted an operating margin of 10.4 per cent, which left the European majors in the fumes.

Lufthansa posted an operating margin of 2.8 per cent for the period, followed by British Airways-Iberia owner IAG at 1.5 per cent.

Air France-KLM was in the red for the period.

–‘Unique’ advantage over western airlines —

“THY can fly up to 40 countries in three to four hours, it will always have the unique advantage in the West,” said Guntay Simsek, an aviation columnist for Haberturk daily.

“But it is in the Eastern market that THY will really find itself tested with competition, particularly against Emirates and Etihad,” he added.

That is because THY is not the only airline looking to bank on good geography.

Emirates Airlines has been one of the world’s fastest growing, catapulting itself into the third-largest by capacity, using Dubai as a hub for Asia-Europe traffic.

It recently concluded a global alliance with Qantas to strengthen that role.

The airline, which does not report quarterly results, carried 34 million passengers in its 2011-2012 operating year and posted an operating margin of 3.9 per cent.

Another Gulf contender to the trans-continental travel market is Qatar Airways, which is pondering buying a stake in troubled Czech Airlines.

Then there is Abu Dhabi’s Etihad, which is eyeing stakes in India’s Jet Airways and the ailing Kingfisher.

“Europe might have been the driving force of the world’s aviation but that position is now long gone,” aviation expert Kurt Hofmann said.

He said European airlines found the quick rise of airlines like THY and Emirates hard to believe, but that their rise should come as no surprise as the region is filled with governments who know “the importance of a strong carrier.”

Turkey’s government is targeting rapid economic growth — it wants the country to become one of the world’s top 10 economies in a decade — and aviation is a priority sector.

In addition to the airport project, the government in recent years has slashed taxes on air tickets and fuel, while EU airlines have been hit with additional charges.

THY, which is still 49-per cent owned by the state, does not have bans on night flights at its hubs either.

It is the state support that concerns European rivals, according to a European diplomat who wished to remain anonymous.

“As THY is considered a strategic company, the government is helping it in a way that would be impossible if Turkey were a member of the European Union,” he said. “That’s not fair competition”.

But THY’s expansion would not be without risks, however, as it would need to fill the seats on all those new planes or its profitability would be eroded.

“It is both a big potential and a danger when the goals are set so high,” Hofmann said. “But THY can do it.”

AFP

via World’s biggest airport planned for Istanbul, Turkey.

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February 5, 2013
Milou van Groesen Poses in Harper’s Bazaar Turkey February 2013 Cover Shoot by Koray Birand

Modern Hareket – Milou van Groesen stars in the February cover shoot of Harper’s Bazaar Turkey wearing ultra-sleek style. In front of Koray Birand’s lens, the blonde beauty poses in the studio wearing the selects of stylist Hakan Bahar. For beauty, hair stylist Ibrahim Zengin and makeup artist Ali Riza Ozdemir create understated glam looks. / Production by Productionising

via Milou van Groesen Poses in Harper’s Bazaar Turkey February 2013 Cover Shoot by Koray Birand | Fashion Gone Rogue: The Latest in Editorials and Campaigns.

February 2, 2013
How Family Cash Between Germany And Turkey Started Flowing East-To-West

How Family Cash Between Germany And Turkey Started Flowing East-To-West

A reversal in direction of the traditional route of remittance payments – now family members in Turkey are sending money to relatives in Germany.

How Family Cash Between Germany And Turkey Started Flowing East-To-West Western Union, Munich, Germany – (Usien) By Karsten Seibel

Western Union, Munich, Germany – (Usien)

DIE WELT/Worldcrunch

BERLIN – Turkish immigrants in Germany had long helped to feed Turkey’s economy with remittance cash and checks sent back home. Now, with Turkey’s economy growing fast — and Germany bogged down by the euro zone crisis — the money has started flowing in the opposite direction.

“We’re seeing more and more cash transfers from Turkey to Germany,” confirms Claudia Westermayr, head of Western Union in Germany.

Already, 20% of transfers are no longer going from Germany to Turkey, but from Turkey to Germany. “More and more Turks are returning to Turkey and supporting relatives who still live in Germany,” Westermayr explains.

However the usual transfers the company has been making for customers for decades – from Germany to Turkey – continue to be the majority. Turkey leads the countries that Western Union in Germany sends money to, followed by Romania and Bulgaria. Traditionally, many transfers also went to Kosovo, the Philippines and Serbia.

The euro crisis has also brought the company new client groups. “We’re benefitting strongly from immigration to Germany – with many of our customers here coming originally from Spain, Italy and Greece,” says Westermayr, who is also in charge of Eastern Europe.

She also says that the on-going influx of people from Poland had been very positive for the company and Poland had reached 4th place on the list of the top transfer destinations for the Western Union.

The company does not provide details of the exact number and volume of transfers to and from Germany, but Westermayr says that, “in 2012, Germany recorded a two-digit growth in transactions.”

Despite the increased use of electronic payments, worldwide cash transfers are a growing business. The World Bank estimates that for the first time last year, over $400 billion flowed to developing countries – 6.5% more than in 2011.

And demand is expected to keep growing. It is estimated that in 2015 the volume of money sent home by people working abroad will total $534 billion. “For many people, cash spells security,” Westermayr says. The growing market also attracts more competition, driving down the price of money transfers in Germany.

Quicker and cheaper than bank transfers

According to the World Bank, Germany continues to be one of the most expensive countries for money transfers. On average, fees represent 14% of the amount transferred whereas in Russia, they only represent 2%. The only country that tops Germany is Japan.

One of the things driving prices up in Germany are the banks – World Bank figures show that in Sept. 2012, sending 140 euros to Turkey via a money transfer provider like Western Union could cost as little as four or five euros, whereas some banks charged over 30 euros.

Money transfer specialists, who include companies like MoneyGram and Ria, say that transfers made through them are quicker than bank transfers – cash is not physically transferred from one place to another. As soon as the system registers that the amount was paid in anywhere in the world, the customer at the receiving can be paid.

In Germany, Western Union has 4,700 sales points. Among these are 2,600 post offices and 1,900 kiosks, supermarkets and phone stores. It has been legal in Germany for retailers to take in and pay out money since 2009.

The advantage for customers is that Mom and Pop corner stores are usually open much longer than banks. And there are hardly any limits to where money can be sent – according to Westermayr, the only places that are off-limits are Somalia, Iran and North Korea.

Over the next few years, the company plans to build its German network to 10,000 sales points. Business partners are carefully selected. “They get intensive basic, regular advanced training, and they have to have a separate counter in their store where Western Union transfers are dealt with,” Westermayr explains.

However: all the training and awareness in the world can’t totally stop money laundering, she admits.

Read the article in the original language.

Photo by – Usien

All rights reserved ©Worldcrunch – in partnership with DIE WELT

Crunched by: Gail Mangold-Vine

via How Family Cash Between Germany And Turkey Started Flowing East-To-West – All News Is Global |.

February 2, 2013
Men flock to Istanbul for hair tourism

Men flock to Istanbul for hair tourism

Updated: 2013-02-01 07:35

By Philippe Alfroy in Istanbul, Turkey ( China Daily)

Men flock to Istanbul for hair tourism

Mustaches are traditionally considered a sign of virility in Turkey. Bulent Kilic / Agence France-Presse

Already known the world over for its baths, coffee and sweet Turkish delights, Turkey is on the road to adding another item to its roster of specialties: the mustache.

Lip whiskers remain a highly sought-after mark of manliness in Turkey and the Middle East to the point that the naturally less hairy are increasingly seeking out mustache transplants at the hands of Turkish cosmetic surgeons.

Among them is Selahattin Tulunay, head of a thriving private practice that once specialized in hair transplants but has been adapted to cater to the increasing demand for mustaches. “I’ve been doing mustache implants for around three years now,” he said.

“A lot of men have come to see me saying ‘I’m 40 years old, I’m the head of a large company, and no one takes me seriously abroad. I want people to see that I have hair’,” he added.

Only 30 years old, Engin Koc had long despaired of his clean-shaven face before he opted to go undergo the procedure seven months ago and get the mustache of his dreams.

“I wanted to look like the ancient Turks, like the Ottomans, and since I’m a nostalgic soul with an admiration for that era, I got the implants,” he said, calling the mustache “a symbol of Turkish virility”.

Mustaches have long been considered a serious matter in Turkey, with a popular saying stating that “a man without a mustache is like a house without a balcony”. The shape of the specimen even holds political meaning.

“The bushy style is more the prerogative of the left or of Kurds,” said anthropologist Benoit Fliche from the French Institute of Anatolian Studies in Istanbul.

“When neater, like that of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, it becomes religious and conservative.”

“And when it shoots down on both sides of the mouth like fangs, it’s a mark of the extreme right,” Fliche added.

Although the bewhiskered look is winning over fewer Turks from the big cities – who are drawn more towards Western fashion – a mustache and beard remain a must for men from Arab countries or the Turkic republics of Central Asia, who journey over to Istanbul to satisfy their need for hair.

“The Turkish television series broadcast in the Arab world wield a great influence,” said Tulunay, adding that “it’s upon seeing our actors that these patients called on us for the same beard or the same mustache”.

These clients constitute the core of the new market for facial hair. In Istanbul alone, around 250 clinics or private practices are locked in fierce competition to sell their services, with promotions galore.

The majority are linked to travel agencies and offer package deals that include the operation, a hotel stay and airport pick-up.

The most competitive offer package deals start at $2,700 and come with much more bang for the buck than their European or United States counterparts.

Hair tourism is thus in full swing, fueled by a constant increase in the number of foreigners visiting Turkey, with estimates suggesting more than 35 million people flocked there last year.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 02/01/2013 page10

via Men flock to Istanbul for hair tourism |World |chinadaily.com.cn.

February 2, 2013