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authorization to commercial enterprises established under foreign laws
that want to open a liaison office, under the condition that such liaison
offices do not perform commercial operations. The Ministry of Economy
is also authorized to extend this authorization. Article 8 of the Application
Regulation stipulates fields of activity for liaison offices. Therefore, liaison
offices may be defined as representation offices which are attached to
the foreign-based commercial enterprise and which can provide services
such as representation, hosting, securing Turkish suppliers as well as
quality control and audit of these suppliers, communication and transfer
of information, planning and researching without conducting commercial
activities.
Thus, foreign-based commercial enterprises may open branches or
liaison offices. It should be emphasized that liaison offices must not
conduct commercial activities. Therefore, the expenses of a liaison office
shall be entirely covered by the foreign-based commercial enterprise.
Opening a Liaison Office.
Commercial enterprises that wish to open
a liaison office in Turkey should apply to the Ministry of Economy with
the necessary documentation. Pursuant to Article 8 of the Application
Regulation,
the Ministry of Economy shall provide authorization for
3 years at maximum. Therefore, it is necessary to apply to the General
Directorate of Incentive Implementation and Foreign Investment before
the expiration of the authorization in order to secure an extension.
Article7of theApplicationRegulationlists therequireddocumentation
for opening a liaison office. These documents are as follows:
1-
Application form;
2-
Declaration comprising the scope of activity of the liaison office
and a declaration with a commitment stating that the liaison
office shall not perform any commercial activity, and a document
indicating the signature authorization for the person signing the
document on behalf of the foreign-based commercial enterprise;
3-
Certificate of activity which is duly authenticated with an
Apostille;
4-
Activity report or balance sheet and income statement of the
foreign-based commercial enterprise;