Foreign investments up eight times in last decade

ANKARA (A.A) - November 24, 2011 - Foreign investments in Turkey increased more than eight times in the last ten years, and reached 180.2 billion USD. According to figures of Central Bank, direct investments of 34 European countries in Turkey, which were 15.8 billion USD in 2000, increased to 141.9 billion USD in 2010. Among European countries, the highest direct investments were made by the Netherlands with 38.2 billion USD in 2010 with an increase of four times. Germany followed the Netherlands with an increase of seven times to 17.017 billion USD. After European countries, the U.S. became the country which made the most direct investment in Turkey. U.S. investments in Turkey, which were 2.2 billion USD in 2000, increased to 15.2 billion USD in 2010. Total investment of 14 countries in American continent reached 19.3 billion USD. Among Asian countries, highest investments in Turkey were made by Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. In ten year period, the investment of these Gulf countries rose from 365 million USD to 13.3 billion USD. Total investment of all Asian countries increased 17 times to 18.6 billion USD. Among African countries, Libya made the highest investment with 224 million USD. Total investment made by African continent was 236 million USD.