Privatization Endeavor In Turkey

A strong and sustained commitment

The striking economic shifts of the 80's ushered a new era for the world economy, where privatization became one of the most essential and indispensable financial reforms on the economic agendas of many nations. As being one of the fundamental tools of the free market economy, privatization has been on Turkey's agenda since 1984.

Privatization in Turkey, not only aims to minimise state involvement in economic activities and to relieve the financial burden of State Economic Enterprises (SEE) on the national budget, but also contemplates the development of capital markets and the re-channelling of resources towards new investments. Turkey, one of the fastest growing economies of the world has positioned itself as an attractive and promising investment environment through the implementation free trade principles and establishment of dynamic capital markets as well as offering liberal incentives facilitating transactions for international investors and exporters.

The fundamental transformation in Turkish economy has moved the country from an in-ward-focussed import substitution model towards an export led growth and industrial one. The East-West expansion of the world's geopolitical horizons has opened up a new era for Turkey with many promising opportunities for international investors. The investment opportunities in Turkey are particularly attractive in the framework of country's ongoing ambitious privatization agenda. The involvement and participation of international investors is highly encouraged in the massive privatization program. The privatization process in Turkey with a view of relieving the burden of state economic enterprises on the national budget, has proved to be an important source of funds for the government and brought tangible results and progress within this philosophy. Although this task has not been easy, many state-owned companies have passed to the private sector.

Bodies Responsible from Privatization under Law

No. 4046 Under the Privatization Law No. 4046, privatization process is carried out by two bodies: Privatization High Council Privatization Administration

The Privatization High Council (PHC) is the ultimate decision-making body for privatization in Turkey. The Council, headed by the Prime Minister, is composed of four ministers.

PHC nominates the organisations for privatization through taking state-owned economic enterprises in and out of the privatization portfolio and is responsible from the methodology and timing of the privatization procedures by approving the final transfer procedure of the organizations to real people or/and legal entities.

The Privatization Administration (PA) is the executive body for the privatization process. It is a legal public entity with an exclusive budget, reporting directly to the Prime Minister. PA's major duties include the execution of PHC's decisions, advising the PHC in matters related to the transfer of SEE's into or out of privatization portfolio and restructuring and rehabilitation of SEE's in order to prepare them for privatization.