The American-Statesman article on trips taken by Texas legislators to Turkey (June 18) calls for some clarification and context. Turkey could become an important trading partner as Texas seeks to compete in the global market. After all, more and more international companies are looking to Turkey for avenues of investment over 1,100 U.S. companies, to date.
Turkey brings to the global stage a stable, Western-oriented, secular democracy offering a growing market for U.S. goods and services.
Sound democratic principles have helped Turkey emerge as a regional power and important trading partner with a rapidly modernizing economy — the 15th largest in the world and 6th largest in Europe. Hence, there is nothing more natural for Texas than to develop political and business relations with this economically strong, democratic country.
The Turkish market remains largely unsaturated, offering a great deal of potential for Texas companies in many fields, from energy to healthcare technologies; new businesses would join the ranks of Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Texas Pacific Group and Lockheed Martin, among other Texas-based companies well-established in the Turkish economy.
At the Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians, we have a vision for the future as we work to establish long term friendships and business cooperation.
We believe that stable business relationships are built from dialogues and common experiences. The Turquoise Council trips provide an intensive and informative view of Turkish society on a broad scale. During the nine-day stay, our guests meet with Turkish business leaders within global trade centers and numerous corporate hubs; they meet with many Congressional members at the Turkish House of Representatives who work on parallel committee assignments so as to share mutually beneficial advice on successful governmental measures. To ensure the most effective outcomes, each group maintains a specific theme; Energy, International Trade, US Foreign Policy Interests, Health Care Policies and the Global War on Terror are just a few among many themes. Texas Legislators also visit the US Embassy in Ankara for a briefing on the country and current bilateral relations. These considerations are what make our trade missions so successful.
Turkey`s broad global influence and strategic location make it a prime partner for facilitating joint investment opportunities in other countries.
Our guests are consistently impressed with the level of professional detail we put in to planning our trips; the majority of our guests describe their visit as the most thorough and informative they have ever experienced, this is exemplified by the testimony of every Texas leader that has participated in the trade missions. In January, Texas State Legislators and Turkish Congress members attended the Turkic—Texas Friendship Reception and Awards Dinner in Austin, an event promoting intercultural understanding and goodwill among American, Turkic, and Eurasian attendees in a celebratory environment. We believe that this intercultural dialogue is worthy of celebration and are disheartened by the critical perspective offered only by those who have not further explored the mutually beneficial goals of the TCAE.
Turkey has been a stabilizing influence on Iraq, an effective partner in Afghanistan, a supporter of U.S. policy in Libya, a powerful member of NATO, and a critical ally in the Global War on Terrorism. Since antiquity, present-day Turkey has been situated at the crossroads of civilizations. Its complicated position between the geopolitical “East” and “West” continues to shape the modern world. By supporting and deepening U.S. — Turkic political, cultural, and business ties, the TCAE hopes to advance economic and political interests within the proven framework of democracy, religious freedom and global prosperity. These are our goals as an organization. We hope that those who have participated in all that the council has to offer would share those experiences with those that express criticism without personal experience. There is such incredible potential in our dialogue and cultural exchanges, especially for Texas, a proven economic leader within the United States.
We hope for a better understanding of the mutual needs and ties of Turkey and America, specifically Texas. TCAE believes that the business and political relations between Texas and Turkey go beyond the borders of the two States with the potential to yield wonderful results on many fronts in the world.
Kemal is president of TCAE. kemal_oksuz@turquoisecouncil.org
via Oksuz: Texas and Turkey could be great partners.