Turkey - A Country Focused on the Future

Turkey – A Country Focused on the Future

In 2008, the amount of U.S. financial aid received by Turkey was actually negative meaning that more money was sent back to the United States in the form of principal repayments, returned grants and currency conversion than was received during that year. The percentage of financial aid being used for weaponry has been on a steady decline since 1999. The history of financial aid from the United States dates back to 1947 with the implementation of the Truman Doctrine after World War II.

With Turkey being a democratic republic with an elected form of government, the recipient of substantial financial aid from the United States for over 60 years and having hosted a recent visit from President Obama, similar to Cairo I had anticipated Istanbul to be a vibrant modern city to rival those in other Middle Eastern countries. I did not even consider Istanbul being similar to any European city. As we drove into the city from the airport, I did notice a lot of construction cranes and building sites in progress. Was Istanbul really the city I imagined or would I be disappointed again as I was in Cairo?

My first impression of Turkey and the Turkish people can be summarized as industrious. The airport was well organized and the lines through passport control were quick and efficient. I intentionally used the restroom in the airport to compare the experience to that of Cairo. There was an attendant present who kept the restroom clean and well stocked with tissue but did not ask for a tip or gratuity. The staff assisting us in baggage claim never once asked for a tip or gratuity while they loaded everyone’s luggage up on carts and escorted us out to the buses. The contrast encountered between Cairo and Istanbul would continue in every aspect of our visit.

My first meal in Istanbul would be at a little local restaurant just off of Taksim Square in the “New City” of Istanbul. Similar to Egypt, the dining experience was al fresco. In contrast to Egypt and the area around the Cairo Marriott hotel, I felt completely at ease in walking the area around The Point Hotel, Taksim Square and the pedestrian walk just off of the square. The atmosphere seemed more alive and vibrant. The menu featured traditional “Kebap”. I felt far braver in trying something new in Istanbul than in Cairo and was rewarded with a wonderful meal with no gastro-intestinal “impact”. Was Turkey really the country I had been briefed about or would I again be disappointed as I was in Egypt?

Our first exposure to doing business in Turkey was from a presentation by the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEiK) at the Türkiye Odalar ve Borsalar Birliği. The message was clear. Turkey is “open for business”. Turkey’s economy is growing as evidenced by positive GDP growth even in the current world recession. The median age in Turkey is 28, the youngest population in Europe. There is evidence of a growing middle class in Turkey, crucial to a growing, sustainable economy. In contrast to Cairo where the roof tops were littered with debris, the roof tops in Istanbul were covered in satellite antennas.

The role of women in Turkey could not be in more contrast to that of Egypt. As we visited various businesses in Istanbul, we found women playing vital roles in leadership and decision making. At the Ali Raif Pharmaceutical Plant, the Director of Quality Control is a woman. In fact, 60% of the employees at the pharmaceutical office we visited were women. Is this an anomaly or a general trend in Turkey? In our visit to Coke, the Director of Marketing and the product marketing manager are both women. It is apparent that Turkey, at least in Istanbul, is aggressively making significant employment opportunities available to women. This strategy insures that all of Turkey’s population has a role to play in the continued economic growth encouraging direct foreign investment.