Economic Impact Economic benefit for the region – sustainable improvements A scheme with the dimensions of the ILISU dam will change the economic, social and ecologic environment of the area significantly. The government of Turkey assumes that the 19 hydro projects in the South-East Anatolia region (so called GAP-region) will create – directly and indirectly – 3.8 million additional jobs. Ilisu dam will take a leading role in this respect, as this power plant contributes around ten to 20% in the region. Direct employment will be created for around 4,000 people of the area during the construction time of 5 to 7 years. This represents about 11 per cent of all construction workers in the region. Subcontracts to local companies, which means additional income for employees, and income through supply of local goods and services will create further highly benefits to the local industry and strengthen the economic development of the region. The personal needs of the employed workers will create further jobs in the service area. It is estimated that for each 5 directly employed workers another job in the service area is created, which means another 800 jobs in total. The combined benefit of construction and operation of the power plant will create a direct economic benefit for the area of about 300 million Euro. The side works like relocation and improvement of the infrastructure, like new roads, settlements, bridges, railroads, electrical transmission lines and public buildings – schools etc.- will pump another 200 million USD into the local economy. It is the global target of the government of Turkey, to implement these projects as an economic catalyser for the underdeveloped east of Turkey, to fight the present poverty and to lead the area to the living conditions of the prospering west of Turkey.