By Gokhan Yildiz
ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkey’s economy is more robust than it appears and remains attractive to investors, according to the head of the Turkish arm of one of the world’s largest tobacco firms.
Enrique Jimenez, managing director of Philip Morris/Sabanci, a Turkish subsidiary of the international tobacco giant, spoke to Anadolu Agency on Monday.
In an exclusive interview Jimenez said Turkey was a very attractive country for foreign investors due to its strategic location, demography and large development potential.
"As Philip Morris/Sabanci we have been operating in Turkey since the beginning of the 90s. Turkey has always became an invaluable and important country.
"Hard times come and go but the Turkish economy is in a much better shape than the world sees," Jimenez said.
Stressing how Turkey’s economy was one of fastest growing and dynamic among European countries, Jimenez said foreign investors were likely to turn to Turkey once the investment climate developed in the country.
Jimenez said Philip Morris International’s largest manufacturing plants were located in Turkey, a clear indication the country was an ideal location for manufacturing and management operations.
“We owed our success to a solid distribution network, result-oriented employees who adapt to do their best plus a balanced product range. We are here for a long time and plan to be so for a longer time. We will keep supporting Turkey’s economy,” Jimenez said.
Philip Morris/Sabanci made investments worth $300 million last year and its overall investments in Turkey are above $1 billion.
The company’s facility in western coastal Izmir province had ranked as Philip Morris International’s “best factory” three times in row among the tobacco giant's subsidiaries, Jimenez added.