Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

A meeting was held in New York by TOBB, US Chamber of Commerce and Investment Promotion Agency with the attendances of the President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Coca-Cola Board Chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent as well as many prominent US companies’ CEOs.

In his speech, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu expressed their desire to see the trade between the two countries increase. “We invite you to trade more with and to invest in Turkey,” said Hisarcıklıoğlu and stated that a great opportunity to cooperate in view of Turkey’s 2023 vision.

Hisarcıklıoğlu drew attention to the fact that Turkey plans to grow its economy by 2.5 times in the next 10 years and said, “We want to shift to high tech goods in production. There are great opportunities for working together, for cooperating.” The TOBB President said, “At the same time there’s tremendous opportunity to work together in third country, chiefly in our region. We are prepared to expand our areas of cooperation and partnership.”

- Desire for more investment and trade

Stating that, as the business community, they think that the financial aspect of Turkish – American relations need to rise to a new level, Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized the need for more investment and trade. As TOBB and the US Chamber of Commerce their efforts have been to this end since 2012, reported TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and went on to stated that the inclusion of Turkey in the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Agreement, or an FTA between Turkey and the USA would be concrete steps in increasing trade between the two countries. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We do not want to even consider the possibility of Turkey being excluded from an economic integration which could fundamentally effect the global economy.”

- “Businessmen are the mortar between countries”

Thanking President Erdoğan for honoring the meeting and his close support for the financial aspect of Turkish – American relations, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, have been working diligently for the improvement of the financial aspect of Turkish – American relations. We know that businessmen and their financial activities are the mortar of Turkish – American relations.

The strong political will and concrete efforts of President Erdoğan and President Obama, of both our governments, gives us hope and courage.

Turkey’s rapidly growing economy, qualified human resources and geographical conditions make it a very attractive country for investing in. We invite you to trade more and invest more in Turkey.”

- Muhtar Kent’s call to invest in Turkey

Giving a brief speech prior to introducing President Erdoğan, Coca-Cola Board Chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent said, “We’ve all witnessed the leadership of President Erdoğan in laying the foundations of the country’s economic growth through many reforms. Turkey now boasts of one of the most powerful economies of the world. Innovative entrepreneurs are carrying the country through to many fields other than the ones in which it had already been strong, such as textiles and clothing. Among them are tech, engineering, construction, agriculture, consumer goods and retail.

I would suggest my American friends and colleagues to seriously consider Turkey and potential Turkish partners and suppliers. Your investments will not only enable you to address the Turkish market but also have it act as a gateway to the market of the region – a decision which I am sure you will not regret.”