The Turkish Government has an extensive road-building programe - GÜLAY MALOKÇ provides an overview of the country's asphalt industry. Turkey covers an area approaching 800,000km2, of which about 97% is in Asia and 3% in Europe, while its population is close to 72 million. The country borders with Greece and Bulgaria on its European side, and Syria, Iraq, Iran, Armenia and Georgia on the Asian side. Commanding an important strategic position, Turkey controls the routes from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean