Trabzon is the capital of TrabzonProvince with total population of 220,000 and total area of 232,000 square kilometers. It lies astride the historic trade route between Iran and the European continent. Trabzon is a shipping center with an export trade in foodstuffs, livestock, and tobacco. In the surrounding region citrus fruit, corn, and potatoes are grown, and deposits of iron, lead, and copper are found.

    In Trabzon, where there are a number of tea and hazelnut-processing facilities, the manufacture of cement, building materials, medical products, metal and glass products, together with items made of copper, silver and gold are carried out. Apart from the above there are fish canning factories where fish meal is also produced.

    Trabzon and Rizhao established the sister-city relationshipin December 1991.