MÜSİAD President Mahmut Asmalı, who is continuing his contacts in the United States, came together with representatives of Select USA, affiliated with the US Department of Commerce, the US Chamber of Commerce and the World Bank. Stating that Türkiye and the United States would reach the USD 100 billion target within a short time, President Asmalı emphasized that MÜSİAD would add strength to this target with its East Coast Strategy.

The US Business Trip programme, organized by the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) with the aim of strengthening Türkiye-US commercial relations and creating new business opportunities, continued with the visits held in Washington DC following the contacts in New Jersey and New York. 

In the visits held with the participation of MÜSİAD President Mahmut Asmalı, IBF President Erol Yarar and members of the MÜSİAD Board of Directors, the MÜSİAD delegation came together with the management of Select USA, affiliated with the US Department of Commerce. 

In the meeting held with the Select USA management within the scope of the programme, MÜSİAD EXPO 2022, to be organized at the TÜYAP İstanbul Fair and Congress Centre on 2-5 November, the 2023 Investment Summit, to be organized at the Gaylor National Resort and Congress Centre in Maryland on 1-4 May, and areas of bilateral cooperation were addressed.

The MÜSİAD delegation, which subsequently came together with the management of the US Chamber of Commerce Türkiye Business Council, exchanged views on the commercial relations of the two countries and on regional trade opportunities.

MÜSİAD President Mahmut Asmalı and the accompanying delegation also came together with the management of the World Bank and assessed MÜSİAD's work and global economic developments.

"We believe that the trade target between Türkiye and the United States will be reached within a short time"

Making assessments regarding the US programme, President Asmalı drew attention to the fact that the Türkiye-US trade volume reached the highest level in history in the previous period.

Stating that the positive picture that emerged in the contacts held within the scope of the US Business Trip organized by MÜSİAD would be reflected in the field within a short time, President Asmalı said, "We believe that the target of reaching a trade volume of USD 100 billion, which is the joint aim of both countries, will be realized before long."

President Mahmut Asmalı made the following statements in his assessment:

"In 2021, Türkiye's exports to the United States increased by 44.5 percent to reach a record level of USD 14.7 billion. In the same period, with Türkiye's imports from the United States rising to USD 13.2 billion, the bilateral trade volume was seen to climb to USD 27.9 billion, the highest level in history. This commercial interaction between the two countries is continuing to expand in 2022 as well. In the January-August period of the year, Türkiye's exports to the United States recorded an increase of 24.9 percent to reach USD 11.4 billion, while in the same period Türkiye's imports from the United States rose by 28.0 percent to USD 10.3 billion. We are speaking of a quite substantial commercial exchange. At the same time, although only the eight-month part of the year has been left behind, the bilateral trade volume exceeding USD 21.7 billion confirms this positive picture. With the further strengthening of commercial cooperation, we believe that the target of reaching a trade volume of USD 100 billion, which is the joint aim of both countries, will be realized before long."

"The East Coast Strategy and organization in the G20 countries will strengthen Türkiye's logistics position"

Pointing to Türkiye's logistical and strategic importance, President Asmalı shared details regarding MÜSİAD's East Coast Strategy. President Asmalı also made assessments regarding the G20 targets and stated that they would reach this target through the structures to be established in Mexico and Argentina.

MÜSİAD President Mahmut Asmalı continued his statement as follows:

"With its strategic location, our country is advancing with confident steps towards becoming a regional and global production centre. The mega projects put forward over the last 20 years and the reshaped transport networks offer Türkiye additional logistical advantages. As MÜSİAD, we have an East Coast Strategy specific to the American region. Within this framework, in logistical terms our country is closer to the eastern region of America than many countries. If we make good use of this advantage, we can increase our influence in the US and regional market. The target of completing our organization in the G20 countries, which we set out when we took over the duty in September 2021, is also of great importance in this respect. We will shortly bring our organization in Mexico into operation and complete this target of ours with our work in Argentina. In our visits, we strive to present Türkiye in the best possible way to the business people who wish to invest in our country. All 81 of our 81 provinces have distinct beauties and distinct investment opportunities. Through Anatolian Economic Diplomacy, we will continue to convey our cities and investment areas to the foreign missions in our country, and we will strengthen this work of ours both at home and abroad."

Visit from the MÜSİAD delegation to the Washington Embassy, NAM and the IIF

MÜSİAD President Mahmut Asmalı and members of the MÜSİAD Board of Directors also visited Türkiye's Ambassador to Washington Murat Mercan within the scope of the Washington contacts and exchanged views on MÜSİAD's work and on commercial life in the region.

On the last day of the US Business Trip programme, MÜSİAD President Mahmut Asmalı came together with Ken Monahan, Deputy Chairman of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), whose members make up 80 percent of the Fortune 100 and which at the same time represents 12.8 million people with its 14 thousand members, and exchanged views on areas of cooperation and on areas of cooperation between MÜSİAD and NAM. 

Completing its Washington contacts with a visit to the Institute of International Finance (IIF), the global association of the finance industry with around 400 members from more than 60 countries, the MÜSİAD delegation came together with Chief Economist Robin Brooks.

MÜSİAD President Mahmut Asmalı and the accompanying members of the MÜSİAD Board of Directors came together with the Anadolu Agency and TRT World team in Massachusetts.