Çağlayan was speaking at a meeting co-hosted by the American-Turkish Council (ATC) and the Turkish-American Business Council (TAİK) in the US capital. Çağlayan said during his talks with US officials that he had mentioned the need to increase mutual investments and also carry such cooperation outside of both countries.“A high-level US State Department official told us that Turkey offers great opportunities to US businesspeople in the renewable energy, tourism and finance sectors,” Çağlayan said, adding that US companies could use Turkey as their door to a fast-emerging region. He said companies from Turkey and the US could cooperate with each other in third countries and make joint investments in the fields of chemicals, automobiles, electronics, machinery and construction.
“We aim to establish new cooperation between the world’s biggest importer, the United States, and a regional power, Turkey. I hope our mutual trade [with the US] is balanced, sustainable and maintains a sustainable increase,” Çağlayan said. Recalling that the parties had signed the Framework for Strategic Economic and Commercial Cooperation in December, he said this and other similar deals would help Turkish-US economic relations develop. The two countries will establish a business council in June.
Çağlayan had talks with senior officials from the Ford Motor Company, leading biotechnology firm Amgen and Boeing on possible investments in Turkey. “Ford has placed Turkey on its agenda. It told me that it would be in touch with me in the months to come. The company is considering making huge investments in Turkey concerning auto production,” Çağlayan said.
Touching on the planned business council with the United States, Çağlayan said Boeing wanted to play an active role. Çağlayan said during his talks with Boeing officials that he had suggested that the company consider manufacturing spare parts in Turkey as Turkey now has a well-established aviation supply industry, saying that such potential could benefit both sides. Çağlayan said Boeing expects to sell more jets to carriers in Turkey.
As regards Turkey’s suggestions to promote trade with the US, he said: “The US has been evaluating produce imports from Turkey for the past few years, and there is a technical process going on, but not much progress has been made. We call on them to accelerate the technical procedures assessing the quality of Turkish produce so that we can start produce exports to the US market.” The minister said both sides should work to foster mutual trade, which is below the desired level.
