Lauterach/Izmir -  Gebrüder Weiss is expanding its presence in Turkey by opening a new office in Izmir. The office in the south west of Turkey complements the existing branch in Istanbul in the area of air and sea freight. Strategically positioned near the Bayrakli business district, Gebrüder Weiss now offers its customers in the South Aegean area transport consulting and planning directly on site. "Being physically close to the customers is key to expanding business. The companies in this region attach great importance to local presence and commitment," says Vojislav Jevtic, Regional Manager, Air & Sea Asia at Gebrüder Weiss. Great potential for growth With about 4.1 million inhabitants, Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey and is home to the country's second largest container transshipment centre after Istanbul. More than 4,500 export companies are based here and this region accounts for 4.2 per cent of all of Turkey's imports. "In particular, the free-trade area in the south of Izmir offers international companies a well-developed infrastructure with ideal links to the nationwide road network and the nearby air and sea ports," says Avsar Dada, Managing Director Gebrüder Weiss Turkey in explanation of the decision to open the new location.  The international transport and logistics company has been operating a branch in Istanbul since the beginning of 2014. The team in this Turkish metropolis is currently made up of 40 employees and has established itself on the market with services in the areas of overland transports, air and sea freight, project business and multimodal solutions.