39th American-Turkish Conference Reception Held

FCHAIN Turkey Office informs:

The 39th American-Turkish Conference, focused on strengthening economic relations between Turkey and the USA, concluded with a productive meeting between Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat and his American counterpart Gina Raimondo. Organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) Turkey-US Business Council (TAİK), in collaboration with the US Chamber of Commerce and the American Turkish Business Roundtable (ATBR), a reception was held in conjunction with the 39th American-Turkish Conference.

The reception, held at the Residence of the Turkish Ambassador in Washington, was attended by Trade Minister Omer Bolat, Turkey’s Ambassador to Washington Sedat Onal, US Ambassador to Ankara Jeffry Flake, DEİK President Nail Olpak, TAİK President Murat Ozyegin, as well as business representatives from Turkey and the USA.

Minister Bolat, in his speech at the reception, emphasized the importance both Turkish and American governments place on enhancing bilateral economic, commercial, and investment relations between the two countries.

Bolat noted that business leaders from both sides are also eager to capitalize on the new momentum in bilateral relations.

“Turkish-American relations will accelerate and develop at every level in the near future.” Bolat expressed that he had a very cordial, constructive, and productive meeting with his American counterpart Gina Raimondo, discussing all significant agenda items aimed at achieving the annual $100 billion trade target between the two countries.

Bolat mentioned discussing with Raimondo how they would find new ways to overcome the additional tariffs on steel and aluminum exports from Turkey to the USA, stating that they would work together on this issue.

Bolat reported reaching an agreement with Raimondo for the joint efforts and more frequent meetings of delegations from both countries, inviting Raimondo to Turkey.

Bolat said, “Turkish-American relations will accelerate and develop at every level in the near future, from investment to trade, from services to industry, from financial cooperation to green economy cooperation. We are ready to talk and make progress at every level.”

“Our friendship and solidarity have stood the test of time.” Turkey’s Ambassador to Washington, Sedat Onal, remarked that the friendship and solidarity between Turkey and the USA, as two loyal NATO allies, have stood the test of time.

Onal pointed out that Turkey is in a region surrounded by crises, emphasizing the need for coordination and cooperation with stakeholders like America to serve peace, security, and stability in the region and beyond. Onal stated, “In such an environment, I don’t think we have the luxury to emphasize our disagreements. We need to increase the points where we converge, and this requires structured, sincere dialogue.”

Onal indicated that with the activation of the strategic mechanism in bilateral relations, they are now in a relatively better phase. He expressed that within the scope of this mechanism, they have addressed a wide range of issues from counter-terrorism to defense cooperation, from energy to tourism, and they are “on the right track.”

Onal emphasized that an important and strong dimension of Turkey-USA relations is economic and commercial relations.