Data from the Turkish ministry of industry and technology shows a “severe” slowdown of economy in the Kurdish southeast of the country ranging from 20 to 50 percent.
Head of the industry and entrepreneur union Aziz Uzklic said investment was growing in 2014 when the clashes broke out and gradually sent the regional economy to recession.
“In an ordinary year, Diyarbakir is able to export goods worth an estimated $180 million, but it has seen a dramatic fall over the past year with thousands of employees sent home,” Uzklik told Rudaw.
According to the ministry’s data the province of Diyarbakir accounts for about 13 percent of the country’s industry with 240 factories. But Uzkilic said only some 180 factories were still open. The rest of the works had filed for bankruptcy.
“The banks no longer support investments as the war in Syria and Iraq continues with no immediate prospect of peace,” Uzklic added.
