30 Metropolitan Municipalities of Turkey (Büyükşehir Belediyeleri)
Türkiye has 81 provinces, and 30 of them are governed as metropolitan municipalities, known in Turkish as büyükşehir belediyeleri. This page lists all 30 by the year each was created, with the province plate code, the geographical region, the district count, and a note on why the place matters to an apparel supplier. It then explains how a metropolitan municipality buys staff and event clothing through the EKAP public procurement platform, and where a Philippine manufacturer fits in that process.
What a Büyükşehir Belediyesi Is
A büyükşehir belediyesi is a two tier form of local government for a large Turkish province. A metropolitan municipality sits at the top, and a district municipality, called an ilçe belediyesi, sits under it in every district of the province. The 1982 Constitution allowed a special form of management for large settlements, and the first metropolitan municipalities were created in 1984.
The defining change came with Law No. 6360 in 2012. The law dropped the population threshold to 750,000, measured on the whole provincial population, and it stretched the metropolitan boundary out to the full provincial boundary. A province that becomes metropolitan no longer has villages or town municipalities with their own legal personality, so those places are absorbed as neighbourhoods of a district municipality. In practice the entire province is served by the two tier structure.
That leaves two systems in the country. The 30 metropolitan provinces run the two tier model with no villages, and the other 51 provinces keep the older structure of a provincial municipality, district municipalities, town municipalities, and villages. For an apparel supplier, the split matters because staff uniform tenders in the 30 metropolitan provinces are issued by a much smaller set of larger buying authorities, with district municipalities buying under the same rulebook.
- Two tiersOne metropolitan municipality over a district municipality in every district.
- Provincial boundaryThe metropolitan boundary is the same line as the province since 2012.
- No villagesVillages and town municipalities became neighbourhoods and lost their own legal personality.
- 51 other provincesThe rest of Türkiye keeps the older municipal structure.
- Legal baseLaw No. 5216 on metropolitan municipalities, reshaped by Law No. 6360.
All 30, Grouped by the Year They Were Created
The register follows the order in which the municipalities were created, from the first three in 1984 to Ordu in 2013. Each entry carries the two digit province plate code, the English and Turkish name, the geographical region, the number of districts, and a note on the place. The plate code is the vehicle registration code of the province and runs from 01 to 81 across the country.
Law No. 2972 and Decree No. 195, later framed by Law No. 3030
Türkiye created its first metropolitan municipalities in 1984 in the three largest cities, under a 1982 constitutional provision that allows a special form of management for large settlements.
- 34 Istanbul Largest air and sea gateway and the main apparel and logistics hub
- 06 Ankara Capital, government centre, and second largest air gateway
- 35 Izmir Aegean port city, apparel hub, and the Port of Aliağa cluster
Metropolitan municipality statutes of 1986
Four more cities with large industrial and textile bases followed within two years.
- 01 Adana Çukurova cotton belt and textile production
- 16 Bursa Denim, knitwear, and automotive textile hub
- 27 Gaziantep Carpet and textile manufacturing hub
- 42 Konya Organized industrial zones and food processing
Metropolitan municipality statute of 1988
Kayseri joined on the strength of its upholstery fabric and furniture cluster.
- 38 Kayseri Upholstery fabric and furniture textile hub
Metropolitan municipality statute of 1993
Seven cities were raised together in 1993, spreading the model along the Aegean, Mediterranean, Black Sea, and eastern corridors.
- 07 Antalya Mediterranean air and sea gateway and tourism centre
- 21 Diyarbakir Regional trade and industrial hub of the southeast
- 25 Erzurum Eastern hub and air gateway
- 26 Eskisehir Industrial and aviation cluster
- 41 Kocaeli Gebze and Izmit industrial zones and the Marmara port cluster
- 33 Mersin Mersin container port and the Mediterranean trade corridor
- 55 Samsun Samsunport, the largest Black Sea port
Metropolitan municipality statute of 2000
Sakarya became the sixteenth metropolitan municipality before the model paused for more than a decade.
- 54 Sakarya Automotive and industrial corridor east of Istanbul
Law No. 6360, published in the Official Gazette on 6 December 2012
Law No. 6360 lowered the population threshold to 750,000 and extended the metropolitan boundary to the full provincial boundary. Thirteen provinces became metropolitan municipalities, and the law removed the legal personality of villages and town municipalities inside them, turning those places into neighbourhoods. The change took effect after the local elections of 30 March 2014.
- 09 Aydin Cotton and textile corridor of the Büyük Menderes valley
- 10 Balikesir Olive oil, food processing, and a growing textile base
- 20 Denizli Home textiles, towels, and bathrobes hub
- 31 Hatay Iskenderun port and the Cilvegözü land border
- 46 Kahramanmaras Knitwear, denim, and apparel manufacturing hub
- 44 Malatya Apricot processing and apparel manufacturing
- 45 Manisa Organized industrial zones near Izmir
- 47 Mardin Border trade and stone trade town
- 48 Mugla Aegean tourism and coastal gateway
- 63 Sanliurfa Textile and apparel production
- 59 Tekirdag Çerkezköy industrial zone and Thrace textile corridor
- 61 Trabzon Black Sea port and regional trade hub
- 65 Van Largest eastern lake and regional trade hub
Law No. 6447 of 14 March 2013
Ordu was named in the 2012 reform but its 2011 population sat below the threshold, so it was established by a short amending law in March 2013. That brought the total to exactly 30.
- 52 Ordu Hazelnut export and Black Sea port
How a Metropolitan Municipality Buys Clothing
A metropolitan municipality and its district municipalities buy staff clothing under Law No. 4734, the Public Procurement Law, and publish the tender on EKAP, the Electronic Public Procurement Platform. The buying authorities that order most apparel are the cleaning works, parks and gardens, and works departments, the fire brigade, the municipal police known as zabıta, and the offices that run city events. A single winter or summer file can run to dozens of items, from work trousers and parkas to shirts, vests, and footwear.
- Need and estimated costA headcount matrix by item, size, and color, backed by a market price study of at least three offers.
- Technical specificationA fabric, weight, construction, size, and test certificate specification written so it does not point to a single brand.
- Advertisement on EKAPOpen tender is the usual route for a large annual buy, with at least 40 days between the advertisement and the bid deadline above the threshold.
- Bid and evaluationBidders register on EKAP, download the file, and submit an electronic bid. The commission checks eligibility and the most advantageous offer.
- Sample approvalOne or two approved samples per item, usually within 10 to 15 business days, with accredited laboratory tests paid by the contractor.
- Production and deliverySerial production and delivery, often within 30 to 60 calendar days, against a performance bond of about 6 percent of the contract.
| Parameter | What the file usually asks for | Reference standard |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric | Gabardine, about 65 percent polyester and 35 percent cotton, or a seasonal equivalent | TS EN 12127 |
| Weight | 240 to 280 g/m2, with a tolerance of about 5 percent | TS EN 12127 |
| Shrinkage | Under 3 percent after washing | TS EN ISO 5077 |
| Fastness | Color fastness to washing at least 4, and to rubbing 4 to 5 | TS EN ISO 105 series |
| Protective clothing | General requirements for protective clothing | EN ISO 13688 |
| High visibility | Class 2 for a summer vest, class 3 for a winter parka | EN ISO 20471 |
| Reflective band | At least 50 mm wide, brightness kept after 25 washes | EN ISO 20471 clause 6.2 |
| Construction | Double row stitching, four thread overlock, and a durable zip | Buyer specification |
Where a Philippine supplier fits. Law No. 4734 gives a price advantage of up to 15 percent to domestic bidders who hold a domestic bidder certificate, and textile and ready to wear goods sit inside that scope. A Philippine manufacturer therefore usually does not bid directly. The practical route is to supply a Turkish bidder, a licensed manufacturer, or a private label partner behind the tender, or to serve the branded and corporate uniform market that sits around it. Our standard uniform orders start at 12 pieces per design, and volume lead times are quoted with the order.
Where Garments Reach the 30
Philippine apparel reaches the metropolitan provinces by sea and by air, then moves inland by road and rail. The gateway pages we cover are linked below; confirm the current schedule and clearance channel with a licensed Turkish broker before shipping.
- Port of Ambarli, IstanbulMarmara container complex and the main maritime gateway for the Istanbul, Kocaeli, Bursa, and Tekirdağ cluster.
- Port of Aliağa, IzmirDeepwater Aegean container terminals serving Izmir, Manisa, Aydın, Denizli, and Muğla.
- Mersin International Port, MersinPrimary Mediterranean container port for Adana, Mersin, Hatay, and Kahramanmaraş.
- Istanbul Airport (IST), IstanbulPrincipal air cargo gateway and the Turkish Cargo hub for urgent and high value consignments.
- Kapıkule, EdirneMain land border toward the European Union for goods that continue overland after entry.
Philippine export gateways
Consolidated apparel cargo leaves the Philippines through the Davao International Container Terminal (DICT) in Panabo City, Davao del Norte, and through the Hijo Special Economic Zone (HSEZ) in Tagum City, the PEZA proclaimed food terminal hub with the Hijo International Port.
Davao International Container Terminal
Hijo Special Economic Zone, Tagum City
Guides That Support the File
The register sets the map. The pages below carry the rules, the systems, and the entry points around it.
- Philippines to Türkiye Import GuideThe full corridor from Philippine export gateways to Turkish entry points.
- Türkiye Ministry of TradeHow the authority regulates an apparel shipment, from BİLGE to TAREKS and KDV.
- Gümrükler Genel MüdürlüğüCustoms clearance, inspection lanes, and the charges applied at the border.
- İthalat Genel MüdürlüğüImport policy, tariff quotas, and the trade defence instruments.
- Ürün Güvenliği ve Denetimi Genel MüdürlüğüProduct safety inspection, market surveillance, and conformity readiness.
- Provinces of TurkeyAll 81 provinces by plate code, grouped into the seven geographical regions.
Metropolitan Municipalities FAQ
How many metropolitan municipalities does Türkiye have?
Türkiye has 30 metropolitan municipalities, called büyükşehir belediyeleri. They sit in 30 of the 81 provinces, and together those provinces hold about 77 percent of the national population.
What is the difference between a province and a metropolitan municipality?
A province is the central administrative unit, and a metropolitan municipality is the municipal government of a province that meets the 750,000 population threshold. Since 2012 the metropolitan boundary is the same as the provincial boundary, so the municipality serves the whole province.
Which law created the current system?
Law No. 6360, adopted on 12 November 2012 and published in the Official Gazette on 6 December 2012, raised the number of metropolitan municipalities from 16 to 30 and extended their boundaries to the full provincial boundary. It took effect after the local elections of 30 March 2014. Ordu followed in March 2013 under Law No. 6447.
What happened to the villages inside a metropolitan province?
Law No. 6360 removed the legal personality of villages and town municipalities inside a metropolitan province and turned them into neighbourhoods of the relevant district municipality. The 51 provinces outside the system kept their villages.
How does a metropolitan municipality buy staff uniforms?
Through the Public Procurement Law, Law No. 4734, with the tender published on EKAP. Most annual staff clothing files use the open tender method, and the buying authority sets a technical specification for fabric, weight, construction, sizes, and test certificates, then approves samples before series production.
Can a Philippine company bid on a Turkish municipal tender?
It is rare, because Law No. 4734 allows a price advantage of up to 15 percent for domestic bidders who hold a domestic bidder certificate, and apparel falls within that scope. The usual role for a Philippine manufacturer is to supply a Turkish bidder, a licensed manufacturer, or a private label partner, rather than to bid directly.
Which metropolitan provinces matter most for apparel sourcing?
Istanbul, Bursa, and Kocaeli in the Marmara cluster, Izmir, Denizli, and Manisa across the Aegean, Kahramanmaraş and Adana in the Mediterranean, Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa in the southeast, and Kayseri for upholstery fabric. They host the textile mills, the ports, and the largest buying authorities.
How do garments reach a metropolitan province?
By sea through the Port of Ambarli in Istanbul, the Port of Aliağa in Izmir, and the Mersin container port, by air through Istanbul Airport, and onward by road and rail from the ports to the inland metropolitan provinces.
Plan an Order for a Turkish Metropolitan Municipality
Send the garment type, the item and size matrix, the monthly volume, and the destination province. The export desk will come back with the cut and construction plan, the packing and carton plan, and the documents a Turkish bidder or importer can file.