Establishing a liaison office in Turkey is a fantastic way for foreign companies to get a foothold in the Turkish market without jumping directly into commercial activities. But what exactly can a liaison office do?
Let’s break it down with examples and a simple, fun-to-read format!
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While liaison offices can’t engage in direct sales or revenue-generating activities, they are allowed to conduct a variety of essential tasks that can help your business grow, from market research to building local relationships.
Here’s a look at the key activities you can carry out through your liaison office:
1. Representation and Hospitality
Want to make a good impression? Your liaison office can represent your company at industry events, trade fairs, or meetings with key sectoral organizations in Turkey. You can also use the office to coordinate meetings and provide office space for your company executives visiting from abroad.
| Example Activity | What You Can Do |
| Representing at trade shows | Attend and network at local industry events on behalf of your foreign company. |
| Office space for visiting staff | Provide office facilities for your team visiting Turkey for business meetings. |
2. Quality Control and Supplier Audits
If your company is producing goods in Turkey or sourcing products, your liaison office can oversee quality control and supplier audits. This ensures that all production meets your brand’s international quality standards.
| Example Activity | What You Can Do |
| Supplier audits | Inspect Turkish suppliers to ensure they meet your company's quality requirements. |
| Quality control for production | Oversee the production process to ensure compliance with your brand’s quality standards. |
3. Technical Support
Providing training and technical support to local distributors is another important function. Whether you’re offering hands-on guidance to improve their performance or providing them with technical knowledge, this activity is critical to building strong relationships in Turkey.
| Example Activity | What You Can Do |
| Training for distributors | Organize workshops or training sessions to enhance distributor skills and product knowledge. |
| Quality enhancement support | Help local suppliers upgrade their processes to meet your global quality standards. |
Stay updated on the Turkish market! Your liaison office can gather crucial information on market trends, competitor activities, and consumer preferences, ensuring you’re always ahead of the game. This information can be shared with your foreign headquarters to fine-tune your strategy.
| Example Activity | What You Can Do |
| Market insights | Collect and report data on local market conditions, consumer behaviors, and trends. |
| Competitor analysis | Monitor competitor and distributor performance and sales activities in Turkey. |
5. Regional Management Center
If your company operates across multiple countries, a liaison office in Turkey can act as a regional hub for various activities, including planning, strategy development, brand management, and even employee training.
| Example Activity | What You Can Do |
| Strategy planning | Coordinate investment, marketing, and sales strategies for the region. |
| Staff training | Offer training and development programs for employees across various countries. |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
While the activities mentioned above are all permitted, there are a few important rules to keep in mind. Liaison offices cannot:
Engage in direct sales or generate revenue.
Sign contracts or issue invoices.
Get involved in commercial transactions.
Pro Tip: Stick to the authorized activities to maintain your tax exemptions and avoid penalties!
Ready to Set Up a Liaison Office in Turkey?
Setting up a liaison office is an efficient, low-cost way to explore the Turkish market and build a local presence without jumping straight into commercial activities. Whether you want to focus on market research, supplier relationships, or regional management, we’re here to help!
Contact us today and let our expert team handle the entire process—from obtaining the necessary permits to managing ongoing compliance.
We’ll make sure your liaison office is set up smoothly and operates effectively.
Take the first step towards success in Turkey!
