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Germany Becomes Turkey’s Leading Foreign Investor

Germany has strengthened its position as the leading foreign investor in Turkey, with 1,266 German-owned companies and a total investment volume exceeding 1 trillion Turkish lira (approx. EUR 20.2 billion). German capital continues to drive growth across multiple sectors, from manufacturing to financial services.

Published

6 months ago

11/12/2025

Harun Yazıcı

Photo: Freepik

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According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) and its 2023 statistics on foreign-controlled enterprises, foreign investment in Turkey recorded a significant rise. The number of foreign-controlled companies reached 10,265, while their combined turnover accounted for 12.8 percent of Turkey’s total corporate turnover. This data highlights the growing importance of international capital in the Turkish economy.

Germany at the Top of Foreign Investors

Among the 10,265 foreign-capital companies operating in Turkey, Germany leads with 1,266 firms. German enterprises generated 13.8 percent of the total turnover produced by foreign companies in the country.

The turnover of German-controlled companies amounted to 1 trillion 85 billion 225 million TRY (approx. EUR 21.8 billion), underscoring Germany’s strong economic footprint in Turkey.

Key Sectors for German Investment

German capital is present across a wide range of industries in Turkey. According to TÜİK, major sectors with strong German participation include tobacco manufacturing, insurance, and financial services. Foreign investors’ rising share in high value-added industries is particularly notable.

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United States Ranks Second

Following Germany, the United States is the second-largest foreign investor with 965 companies, while the United Kingdom ranks third with 706 companies. U.S.-controlled companies account for 11.2 percent of total foreign-company turnover, while U.K. companies represent 10.3 percent.

Source: TÜİK