Turkey’s Economic Confidence Index Highest in 5 Years

Lines of cars are pictured during a rush hour traffic jam on Guomao Bridge in Beijing. Photo: Reuters
Lines of cars are pictured during a rush hour traffic jam on Guomao Bridge in Beijing. Photo: Reuters
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Turkey’s Economic Confidence Index Highest in 5 Years

Lines of cars are pictured during a rush hour traffic jam on Guomao Bridge in Beijing. Photo: Reuters
Lines of cars are pictured during a rush hour traffic jam on Guomao Bridge in Beijing. Photo: Reuters

Turkey's economic confidence index increased by 2.5 percent to 106 points in August, its highest level since July 2012, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) said this week.

The institute noted that monthly hikes in real, services, retail trade and construction sector confidence indexes maintained the rise in economic confidence.

Among all indexes, the construction confidence index rose the most, by 3.3 percent, to 88.3 points. While the index measuring confidence in the services sector was up 1.6 percent, reaching 105.4 points, TurkStat said.
The retail industry confidence index gained 1.1 percent, reaching 108.5 points, it added.

Meanwhile, a recent analysis by Deloitte, one of the world's largest professional services companies, said Turkey's automotive sector will continue to be the country's export champion in 2017.

The report said exports increased by 28.5 percent compared to the same period of last year as sales hit 714,000 automobiles. Meanwhile, the total export value also increased by 22.1 percent, hitting $14.5 billion.

It estimated that export income from the automotive sector this year would be around $26.5 billion.

But automobile sales in the Turkish automotive market in the first six months of this year declined by 9.6 percent compared to the same period of 2016, reaching 306,000 automobiles.

During the same period, 95,000 light commercial vehicles were sold, a 5 percent drop compared to the first six months of 2016.

As for the heavy commercial vehicle market, sales tumbled by 22.4 percent compared to the same period last year, reaching 9,500 vehicles.



Saudi Arabia Signs New Port Contracts Worth Over $586 Million

Acting President of Mawani Mazen Al-Turki (Asharq Al-Awsat) 
Acting President of Mawani Mazen Al-Turki (Asharq Al-Awsat) 
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Saudi Arabia Signs New Port Contracts Worth Over $586 Million

Acting President of Mawani Mazen Al-Turki (Asharq Al-Awsat) 
Acting President of Mawani Mazen Al-Turki (Asharq Al-Awsat) 

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Ports (Mawani) has signed a series of new build-operate-transfer (BOT) contracts worth more than SAR 2.2 billion ($586.6 million) to develop multi-purpose cargo terminals at eight of the Kingdom’s ports.

Acting President of Mawani, Mazen Al-Turki, announced the deals during a signing ceremony held on Monday, describing the move as another milestone in Saudi Arabia’s continued infrastructure development under government leadership.

These 20-year contracts are part of a strategic public-private partnership, bringing together local and international investors to enhance operational capabilities and increase the handling capacity of Saudi ports. The initiative aligns with the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which seeks to position the Kingdom as a global logistics hub.

Al-Turki emphasized that these new agreements build upon previous privatization deals, including the development of container terminals at Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, with investments exceeding SAR 16 billion. The Authority has also signed agreements to develop 20 logistics zones across the country, backed by over SAR 10 billion in investments.

He added that the latest contracts reflect the significant transformation and strategic evolution of Saudi Arabia’s ports, contributing to improved international performance indicators and reinforcing the Kingdom’s role as a key player in the global maritime industry.

Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of Mawani, Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser, noted that the growing flow of private-sector investment demonstrates the attractiveness of Saudi ports and the logistics sector. He highlighted recent advancements in operational efficiency and maritime connectivity, supported by major global and national companies.

Al-Jasser affirmed that the Kingdom’s transport ecosystem will continue expanding its partnerships with the private sector across all regions and domains, with the new contracts marking the continuation of strategic collaborations with leading global and local port operators.

Under the newly signed contracts, the Saudi Global Ports Company will develop, manage, and operate multi-purpose terminals at east coast ports, including King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, Jubail Commercial Port, King Fahd Industrial Port in Jubail, and Ras Al Khair Port.

Meanwhile, Red Sea Gateway Terminal will handle similar operations on the west coast, covering Jeddah Islamic Port, Yanbu Commercial Port, King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu, and Jazan Port.

At King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu, the agreements include modernizing cargo handling with state-of-the-art STS and RTG cranes, reach stackers, trucks, and trailers, aimed at reducing truck turnaround times, vessel berthing durations, and boosting overall efficiency.