TRADE

In the 1900s trade and especially naval trade (from the pier) with Egypt and other Arab countries was carried out in our town. Hoewer, until the proclamation of the republic, our Country was "a colony" and the role of the state in the Mediterranean trade decreased as a result of which the significance of our Fethiye (Megri) as a trade and export center diminished. At present only chromium ore and tomatoes are exported directly from our town, while there are indirect sales of vegetables, fruit and agricultural products.

Farming has developed on a very large scale parallel to improved irrigation methods. Agriculture and tourism are two major sources of income in our town, and with the inauguration of the Dalaman Airport, the contribution to the economy or Fethiye of the latter is enhanced.

Fethiye constitutes a center, away from large industrial undertakings, in the region between Kalkan-Kas in the east and Dalaman-Orfaca in (he west (along the coastline). Both because of its location and due to developments in agricultural and touristic activities, trade in the town exhibits a variance and an expansion. In the services sector (especially in building and tourism) there is a vivacious development.

Small crafts and souvenier items (including rugs and carpets) are all hand-made. In the town, with the exception of ore-mining, salt factory, tahini-halva-candy manufacture, chees-pickles-olive oi production and production of furniture and trailers, there are no significant industrial ventures. Some local industrial enterprises based on agriculture have been abandoned. Although the cotton production is on a scale to justify industrial investments, there are only three cotton gin workshops.

To summarize, our town is a center of settlement, contributing quite considerably to the National Income by virtue of foreign exchange procured directly from tourism and ore-mining, as well as production of agricultural goods, vegetable and fruit. The rate of income and savings per person is higher, compared with the average in Turkey.