Amazon launches in Turkey

The e-commerce giant's latest operation will sell books, electronics, tools, toys, and baby goods, among other lines, including ranges from over 1,000 Turkish businesses

The retailer's ranking improved in spite of concerns around tax practices and working conditions (Reuters)

Amazon launched in Turkey on Wednesday, offering products in 15 categories to customers across the country.

The e-commerce giant's latest operation will sell books, electronics, tools, toys, and baby goods, among other lines, including ranges from over 1,000 Turkish businesses.

Alpagut Cilingir, head of seller services for Amazon's Turkish operation, said the new service would level the playing field between big and small businesses and empower local companies of any size to grow their business online.

"We are investing in helping sellers become successful – continually building tools that do the heavy lifting to help them to sell more,” Mr Cilingir said.

In Turkey, Amazon adds a nation of more than 80 million people to the markets it already operates in.

Turkey's economy grew 7.4 per cent last year and while growth is expected to slow to in 2018, at 4.1 per cent it is still likely to far outstrip many other European economies.

Amazon is also looking to expand into new markets in countries where it already operates.

Last month it was reported that Amazon is considering creating a new insurance comparison website.

The e-commerce giant is said to be in talks with some of Europe’s largest insurers over the new site. It is not yet clear what products might be offered on Amazon’s rumoured new venture, or when it might launch.

The news was enough to send shares in insurance comparison site GoCompare plummeting 10.2 per cent on Thursday morning, before swiftly regaining most of the losses.