ADVERTISING BAN ON PINTEREST, TWITTER AND PERISCOPE
Turkish companies were banned from advertising on social media companies Pinterest, Twitter and social networks Periscope/ Scob. Transportation and Infrastructure Deputy Minister •mer Fatih Sayan said that foreign-sourced social media companies which have not appointed an official delegation will not be allowed to sell advertising to Turkish companies. In his post on the local social media application Yaay and Twitter, Sayan stated that the advertising ban, the third stage of the law that entered into force on October 1, 2020, was published in the Official Gazette on January 19. Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA), the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA), the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, Tax and Audit Committee and all related public institutions will precisely inspect the advertising ban. The companies that advertise on these platforms will also be fined, Sayan added.
USD 18.5BN ALLOCATED FOR 2021 INVESTMENTS
The government has published an investment program to fund 3,091 projects in 2021, according to the Official Gazette. The program totals TRY 138.3bn (USD 18.5bn). Among sectors, the largest number of projects is in education (946) followed by 756 in other public (social and economic) projects, 469 in transportation and communication, 291 in agriculture, 211 in health, 125 in energy, 97 in manufacturing, 95 in residential, 55 in tourism, and 46 in mining. In terms of allocated funds, the transportation and communications sector will take the lion’s share with TRY 42.47bn (USD 5.7bn), following by education with TRY 19.83bn (USD 2.66bn). By institution, Turkey’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure will take the largest share of the investments at TRY 15.1bn (USD 2.02bn) followed by the State Hydraulic Works at TRY 13.5bn (USD 1.8bn) and the Highways Directorate at TRY 13.1bn (USD 1.75bn).
USKUDAR MUNICIPALITY SELLS FOUR LAND PARCELS FOR TRY 35M
Istanbul’s Uskudar Municipality will sell two plots of land in Cavus district of Sile and one land in Burhaniye and Cengelkoy districts with a total estimated price of TRY 34.9m using the closed bidding method. Lands consisting of empty private education areas and urban transformation risky housing areas will be tendered separately by the council in the Uskudar Municipal Council Hall between 10:45am and 11:30am on January 28, 2021. The bidders will deliver the tender envelopes with the requested documents to the municipality by 10:30am on the day of the tender.
TURKEY AZERBAIJAN PTA ENTERS INTO FORCE
The Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between Azerbaijan and Turkey, allowing quotas and customs taxes to be lifted on the trade of 30 agricultural products, including cheese, sugar and products contained, entered into force, according to a notice published in the •fficial Gazette. In accordance with the PTA, customs taxes were mutually lifted within the tariff quotas determined for each product on all products of which basic customs taxes range between 5% to 140%. If any of the parties has difficulties in the balance of payments, they will be able to take restrictive measures by notifying the other party, according to the PTA. The PTA was determined as an indefinite agreement. If any of the parties announces a notice of termination, the PTA will end after six months from the notification date.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY WORKS OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS ON TENDER
The Ministry of Environment and Urbanization General Directorate of Construction Affairs has been put out for tender for the Energy Efficiency Modification Construction Contract Work in Public Buildings. The tender will be held within the scope of ministry’s Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings Project (KABEV), which is financed by a loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). The bids will be delivered by February 22, 2021, according to the announcement in the •fficial Gazette. Details about the tender are available at kamuenerji.csb.gov.tr.
IMMOVABLE SALES BY PRIVATIZATION ADMINISTRATION
The decision of the Privatization Administration (OIB) regarding the sale of real estate was published in the Official Gazette. OIB decided to approve the sale of 4,785 square meters of immovables registered under Sumer Holding in Van district to Himpas Insaat, which made the highest bid of TRY 4 .1m.
USD 200 CUSTOMS VALUE FOR SOME CELL PHONES
The unit customs value to be applied to some telephone devices for cellular networks or other wireless networks has been determined, within the scope of the import survey. Accordingly, the unit customs value per unit for cellular networks with GTIP number 8517.12.00.00.09 or for phone devices for other wireless networks, has been determined as USD 200.
