One need do no more than walk the crowded, bustling streets of downtown Izmir during a weekday lunch break to see that the people of Izmir are for the most part young, enthusiastic and increasingly part of a vibrant and competent international community. Wage scales still remain well below those in the EU or the US, but are no longer below those in China, Southeast Asia and the Indian Sub Continent. Asian competition and world demand has forced Turkey to concentrate more on quality, value-added products and on the improved skill sets of it young population.

International Companies such as ESBAS and many of its resident firms are now investing to increase the number of already existing in technical schools and in advanced education programs and training for their employees.