Why Mersin

Mersin is one of Turkey's most established and dynamic foreign trade centers. In 2022, the total value of exports to 190 different countries reached $6.2 billion, while the import volume rose to $6.9 billion. With these figures, Mersin ranks 7th among Turkey's largest exporting provinces and 9th among its largest importing provinces.

Behind the city's foreign trade strength stand 2,023 active exporting companies. This dense trade network elevates Mersin well beyond being a mere port city, making the region a strategic base for companies seeking international partnerships. Located at the heart of the Mediterranean, Mersin offers swift access to both Eastern and Western markets.

Thriving Mersin

Mersin stands out not only for its current trade volume but also for its large-scale investments shaping the future. Turkey's first city hospital has opened in Mersin with a capacity of 1,436 beds, establishing the city as the healthcare reference point of the region.

Significant transformations are also underway in transportation and logistics. Construction continues on Çukurova Regional Airport, which is set to become one of the largest airports in the region with a target capacity of 12 million passengers. The Mediterranean Coastal Road project, connecting the Western Mediterranean to the Eastern Mediterranean, will substantially improve accessibility — particularly for the western districts. The Logistics Village Project in Yenice is another key investment that will strengthen the city's capacity as a regional distribution hub.

On the energy front, investments centered around Mersin — most notably the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant — are set to make a major contribution to Turkey's energy supply. Eight designated tourism investment zones in the Tarsus–Kazanlı corridor are opening the door to large-scale projects. Free Zone and Organized Industrial Zone expansions, the establishment of new OIZs, and increasing port capacity are among the steps that will elevate the city's industrial and commercial infrastructure to the next level. In addition, high-speed rail studies connecting the region remain firmly on the agenda.

When all these investments are considered together, Mersin emerges as one of the most strategic trade and investment destinations — not just for today, but for the future as well.