Erdoğan calls on US businesses to invest in Turkey

WASHINGTON – Anadolu Agency

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called on U.S. businesses not to hesitate in investing in Turkey. 

“I am inviting you from this platform to invest more in Turkey,” Erdoğan said March 30, noting Turkish entrepreneurs’ concerns about investing in the U.S. that are related to legislative differences, competitive environment and geographical distance. 

“I am calling on our entrepreneurs [to] think big, make firm plans for the middle and long run, establish partnerships with local firms and expand your commercial network to this side of the ocean,” Erdoğan said during a meeting with leaders of forthcoming U.S. businesses, which included Coca-Cola chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent, Lockheed Martin Chief Executive Marillyn Hewson, P&G President and Chief Executive Officer David Taylor, Boeing President and Chief Executive Officer Raymon Corner and Citigroup Chairman Michael O’Neill. 

“Turkey will undoubtedly stand with you,” he added.

Trade between Turkey and the U.S. hit $17.5 billion in 2015, while $150 billion moved between Ankara and Europe during the same period, according to Erdoğan.  
   
Turkish and American business professionals need to help expand the trade between Turkey and the U.S., Erdoğan.      

Noting economic opportunities in Turkey, Erdoğan addressed American investors’ concerns about investing in the country.      

“So far there is no businessman who regrets investing in Turkey or has been exposed to unlawful policies or had difficulties in using his commercial earnings in Turkey,” Erdoğan said. 

“It is a reality that there are some problems in our region and that they have some adverse effects but this will never stop Turkey on its journey toward its goals.”  

The Turkish leader said his country wants the level of economic relations between the U.S. and Turkey to be on par with the political relations of the NATO allies.      

“It is not possible to say that we have fully realized the potential economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries,” Erdoğan said.      

“We have great expectations from you esteemed representatives of prominent American companies as well as Turkish entrepreneurs to recover this shortfall.”  

The Turkish president also stressed that his government would not allow terrorism to damage democracy and public order – an apparent reference to recent attacks carried out by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Turkey.