Erdogan in US calls for more investments in Turkey

By Nuran Erkul

ANKARA

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan encouraged approximately 40 international investors he met during his visit to the U.S. on May 15-16 to intensify investments in Turkey, according to a written statement of the meeting coordinator, Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT) on Wednesday.

Among the potential investors who Erdogan met were top representatives of the Abraaj Group, Cargill, CDPQ, Coca Cola, Dow Chemical, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), GE Aviation, Glaxo Smith Kline, Lockheed Martin, PepsiCo, Raytheon International, Uber, American Turkish Council and American Chamber of Commerce.

ISPAT President Arda Ermut said the president's clarification of Turkish government's strategies for international investors was very significant.

"We showed Turkey's support for international investors at the highest level thanks to this meeting, and we saw great interest in Turkey and President Erdogan. The support he showed to international investors had a big impact," Ermut was quoted as saying in the statement.

This investors' meeting in which Turkey's economic reforms, Turkish-U.S. trade, the possibility of technology investments and international funds to enhance investments were discussed follows on from two previously held in the U.S. in September and March of 2016, Ermut explained.

"We saw the trust that international investors have in Turkey's investment climate, its political stability and future vision especially in the new period after the April 16 referendum," Ermut concluded.

Erdogan visited the U.S. between May 15 and 16 to hold a number of meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump, investors and opinion leaders of the country.