President Erdoğan meets with American, Turkish businesspeople
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is in New York for the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, met with American and Turkish businesspeople as part of the 15th Türkiye Investment Conference held by Türkiye-U.S. Business Council (TAİK).
“OUR BILATERAL TRADE VOLUME SURPASSED 30 BILLION DOLLARS”
Voicing his belief that the meeting, which has now become a tradition, provides significant opportunities for new areas of cooperation and partnerships among business circles of the two countries, President Erdoğan said: “Economic and commercial issues constitute one of the most important aspects of our relations with America. America has been the second country that we export the most to, and the fifth that we import the most from in the last two years. Our bilateral trade volume surpassed 30 billion dollars last year. As I have said several times, we have a great potential to steadily increase the bilateral trade figures.”
Stressing that he sincerely believes that the common goal of 100-billion-dollar trade volume can be achieved through a good planning, President Erdoğan added: “Such unilateral practices as CAATSA sanctions, investigations and additional custom tariffs on steel and aluminum must be abandoned to that end. We expect you, sector representatives, to launch necessary initiatives within relevant institutions in order for these obstacles, which cause mutual losses, to be lifted.”
“THE ONLY COUNTRY WHOSE CREDIT RATING HAS BEEN RAISED BY THREE AGENCIES HAS BEEN TÜRKİYE IN 2024”
Stating that Türkiye has maintained growth in exports, employment, production and tourism despite the ongoing challenges in the region, President Erdoğan noted: “We are reaping the fruits of the economy program, which we strongly support and which we have been implementing for the past year. We have entered a lasting and apparent period of decline in inflation, which is the problem of the entire world as well as our country. The unemployment rate has improved beyond our goals. We have rapidly sorted out the public finance despite the repercussions of the earthquakes. We have ensured that reserves are no longer a source of concern. None of the international credit rating agencies has remained indifferent to these developments. The only country whose credit rating has been raised by three agencies has been Türkiye in 2024.”
“YOUR SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL TO BUILD NEW PARTNERSHIPS”
Underscoring that the cooperation in defense industry has unfortunately been way behind its potential due to limitations, President Erdoğan noted: “We hope to have turned a new page with the F-16 modernization project, and expect the export obstacles in this area to be lifted for good.”
Further stressing that the dynamism of the Turkish defense industry presents a unique opportunity in terms of global supply chains as well, President Erdoğan said that production facilities to be opened in Texas will take supply processes in this area to next level, and added: “Your support is crucial to improve our current projects and to build new partnerships that will contribute to our common security. I am of the belief that the American business world can assume more efficient roles in terms of supporting our efforts.”
Reminding that the companies participating in the meeting have significant investments in Türkiye, President Erdoğan concluded: “I would like you to know that we will be happy to see new investors in Türkiye together with you. I expect your active support in providing necessary conveniences, visa in particular, in terms of Turkish firms entering to the American market.”
