ISTANBUL -- Japanese companies are increasingly using Turkey as a steppingstone leading to the resource-rich markets of Central Asia and the Caucasus.
The region boasts a wealth of natural gas, minerals and other resources, and its economies are growing fast. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan logged growth of 6-10% last year. Kazakhstan's gross domestic product per capita stands at about $12,000, above the $10,000 mark indicating affluence.
