MARMARA REGION
The Marmara Region is located in the northwest of Turkey. Region consists of İstanbul, Tekirdağ, Edirne, Kırklareli, Balıkesir, Çanakkale, Bursa, Bilecik, Sakarya, Kocaeli and Yalova provinces. Region is the country's most populous region with 24,465,194 people1.
Strategical location of the region between Asian and European continents is important. Region has coasts along the seas of Marmara, Aegean and the Black Sea. Istanbul Strait (that connects Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara) and Dardanelles Strait (that connects the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara) are located in the region.
The region’s share in total GDP is almost 50% (47%)2 . The service sector stands out in the West Marmara Region which includes Tekirdağ, Edirne, Kırklareli, Balıkesir and Çanakkale provinces. In the Eastern Marmara Region, where Bursa, Eskişehir, Bilecik, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Düzce, Bolu, Yalova provinces are located, it is seen that the industrial sector has the highest share in GDP. In Istanbul service sector is dominant3 4.
The region has different potentials in terms of agriculture, tourism&culture and industry&trade that is important for the development of the region.
1. https://www.icisleri.gov.tr/turkiyenin-nufus-haritasi, accessed: 16/07/2019
2. See for detailed information,https://biruni.tuik.gov.tr/bolgeselistatistik/degiskenlerUzerindenSorgula.do#, accessed:16/07/2019
3. See for detailed information https://biruni.tuik.gov.tr/medas/?kn=116&locale=tr, accessed: 10/07/2019
4. Given statistics are according to the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) Level 1/ İstanbul, Batı Marmara and Doğu Marmara Regions.
