Abrir um negócio na Turquia

Por Nese Yahya, Diretora Geral da Expatia

O Marco Legal

Starting a business in a new country is challenging, as it is everywhere. As a foreigner, if you intend to set up a business in Turkey, you first have to look at and get familiarized with the Foreign Direct Investment Law (No: 4875), which was introduced in Turkey in 2003. The most important principles introduced by this law are those of non-discrimination and equal treatment, as they set the legal framework of the liberal investment environment in Turkey.

De acordo com a Lei do Investimento Estrangeiro Direto, os pré-requisitos e obrigações para a constituição de uma empresa com capital estrangeiro serão iguais aos das empresas locais. Consequentemente, as diversas autorizações obrigatórias que existiam no passado para a criação de uma empresa com capital estrangeiro são agora eliminadas. As empresas fundadas com capital estrangeiro, conforme considerado pelas regras do Código Comercial Turco, são consideradas empresas turcas. Portanto, todos os deveres e responsabilidades são idênticos, independentemente da natureza da criação de capital da empresa.

Additionally, within the new FDI law, there are no rules requiring Turkish participation in the capital or management of a company with foreign capital. A company may be established with 100% foreign capital, and almost all sectors are open to foreign capital. The company’s establishment procedures have also been simplified to a great extent. Now, with the efficient procedures, a company’s registration and establishment of a company in Turkey can be completed in as little as one day. Companies must submit a standard form at one location and will not need to submit applications to many authorities for approvals. Also, the law provides that it is no longer mandatory to establish either a limited liability company or joint stock company. These are all important points to be taken into consideration by foreign investors who plan to do business in Turkey.

Na prática

If you are opening a company in Turkey, you basically have a couple of options. For instance you can open a liaison office. To undertake this route however, it is important to keep in mind that there should not be any commercial activities on behalf of this company; basically, it is not possible to issue invoices from a liaison office. Another alternative is to open a branch of a foreign company. To pursue this alternative, you need to get permission form the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Ankara, and it is possible to undertake commercial activities. Otherwise, you can set up a limited company or set-up a joint stock company. For the former, you need a minimum capital of 5.000 YTL and minimum two shareholders, all of whom can be foreigners, if necessary. For the latter, a minimum capital of YTL 50.000 is required and the number of founding shareholders should be at least five. For both options, the shareholder liability is limited to the capital paid by each shareholder. It is also feasible to transfer shares from an already established company, and thus become a shareholder.

No que diz respeito à contratação de pessoal estrangeiro em qualquer entidade na Turquia – é possível fazê-lo. Porém, os estrangeiros que planeiam viver e trabalhar na Turquia devem obter uma autorização de trabalho do Ministério do Trabalho e Segurança Social e, ao mesmo tempo, receber uma autorização de residência do Ministério da Administração Interna/Sede da Polícia Local. No entanto, o processo de obtenção de autorização de trabalho é bastante complicado e difícil de adquirir.

Invista na Turquia

“Invest in Turkey”, is a governmental agency, that aims to assist foreign investors in their business ventures in Turkey and provide data and information on the business climate in our country. If you are planning considerable investment in Turkey, it is advised to get in touch with the agency established under the Undersecretariat of Treasury and be active in this environment for several years.

According to the data provided by the agency, around 15.000 companies with foreign capital are in operation in Turkey, as of end of 2006. The majority of them are in wholesale and retail trade, as well as manufacturing. Half of these companies are set up by nationals or entities of the EU Member countries, while Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands are the leading countries in the group of foreign investors.

Below are some useful links worth exploring if you are really into setting up a business in Turkey.

Sindicatos e Organizações

• Associação de Investidores Estrangeiros www.yased.org.tr
• Conselho de Relações Econômicas Externas www.deik.org.tr
• Associação Turca de Industriais e Empresários www.tusiad.org

Órgãos Governamentais

• Invista na Turquia www.investinturkey.gov.tr
• Gabinete de Relações com Investidores www.hazine.gov.tr/iro.htm
• Subsecretaria do Primeiro Ministério do Comércio Exterior www.dtm.gov.tr
• Subsecretaria de Alfândega do Primeiro Ministério da República da Turquia www.gumruk.gov.tr

Empresa Contribuinte:
Consultoria Expatia. Istambul, Turquia. www.expatia.net
Contato: Nese Yahya. [email protected]