Turkey's Climb Versus Egypt's Decline
My experiences in Cairo, Egypt and Istanbul, Turkey are best described by the opinions of those who are the future of both countries. According to the U.S. Embassy official who spoke with us, Egyptians between the age of 18 and 30 feel they have no hope for the future. Even though there is an election, the same person will win. In most cases, these Egyptian young people have known no other President. In contrast, young people in the United States of the same age have known 5 different Presidents.
In Turkey, a European country with the youngest median age, there is definitely an atmosphere of hope for the future. As we visited various restaurants and coffee shops near Taksim Square, interacted with workers at the Ali Raif Pharmaceutical Plant and talked with the administrator of a local school, they are extremely proud of their country, past and future. Being a democratic republic, many voices are able to share their opinions and put forth referendums for all the people of Turkey to consider much like we find in the United States. I look forward to monitoring the results of the Turkish referendum and the role of the Turkish Supreme Court might play in the future of the country.
My biggest take away from my international trip is how different these countries turned out to be as compared to my preconceived opinions. My observation of Egypt is a country that is as idle as the construction cranes that dot the skyline. The partially constructed buildings represent a country with no defined future. Conversely, my observation of Turkey is a country on the move as symbolized by the active cranes and the apparent rapid construction of buildings throughout the city of Istanbul. Completed construction represents potential for economic growth and prosperity for the people of Turkey. I look forward to monitoring the progress of both countries and the future application of U.S. governmental aid.
Showing posts with label Middle Class. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Middle Class. Show all posts
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
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.
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.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Egypt - A Country Mired in the Past
Egypt – A Country Mired in the Past
In 2008, the United States distributed over $26 billion dollars in financial aid to various countries around the world. Factoring out Iraq and Afghanistan, Egypt was number two on the list behind only Israel and was the recipient of $1.8 billion dollars. The financial aid to Egypt in 2008 was another annual installment of aid that dates back to 1975 which was formalized with the signing of the Egyptian – Israeli peace treaty of 1979.
Of the $1.8 billion dollars in financial aid to Egypt in 2008, $1.3 billion dollars was used for weaponry. In 2007, the Bush Administration requested $13 billion dollars of financial aid for Egypt that would be spread out over 10 years, the majority of the aid to be spent on weaponry. Recently, the U.S. Department of State requested $1.3 billion dollars in aid for Egypt for 2011. The majority of the Egyptian aid to be spent on weaponry.
With Egypt being a democratic republic with an elected form of government, the recipient of substantial financial aid from the United States for over 35 years and having hosted a recent visit from President Obama, I had anticipated Cairo to be a vibrant modern city to rival those in other Middle Eastern countries. As we drove into the city from the airport, I did notice a lot of construction cranes and building sites in progress. Was Cairo really the city I imagined?
My first impression of Egypt and the Egyptian people can be summarized by “what’s in it for me”. From passport control to the baggage claim to departing the airport, many of us were hit up for money at least 3 times. The requests for a tip or gratuity were encountered numerous times. Things we would take for granted such as a public restroom with toilet tissue was the anomaly in Egypt and if there was toilet tissue it was usually dispensed by a restroom attendant expecting a gratuity. The question I asked was “What added value did the restroom attendant provide us for the gratuity?”
My first meal in Cairo would be at the Marriott’s Egyptian Nights restaurant. A clean inviting place with al fresco dining. The menu did feature roast pigeon which we had been told is a local delicacy. Some of our group did brave outside of our comfort zone by trying the pigeon but found it to be a lot of work for little meat, much like a skinny Cornish Hen. Was Egypt really the country we had been briefed about?
Doing business in Egypt is a challenge according to those business leaders we had encountered during our stay. With only 3 percent of the population owning a car, the division between those “who have” and those “who have not” was very apparent. Driving through the neighborhoods of Cairo, the signs of poverty were everywhere. The very fact that over half a million people live in the cemetery known as the City of the Dead is a telling tale of the strain that the more than 17 million people living in Cairo is putting on the Egyptian government. Where is the Egyptian middle class, crucial for a growing, sustainable economy that will entice more foreign direct investment?
The role of women in Egypt is still very much in transition. From the passport control booths at the airport to the various business meetings we attended in Cairo, if women were present they were relegated to administrative or other support roles. In all the meetings I attended, men were in leadership, decision making roles. During my time in Egypt, I saw only one woman tourist police and that was at the final security checkpoint as we departed for Turkey. Can Egypt afford to limit its future by limiting 50% of the country’s population?
Next : Turkey - A Country Focused on the Future.
In 2008, the United States distributed over $26 billion dollars in financial aid to various countries around the world. Factoring out Iraq and Afghanistan, Egypt was number two on the list behind only Israel and was the recipient of $1.8 billion dollars. The financial aid to Egypt in 2008 was another annual installment of aid that dates back to 1975 which was formalized with the signing of the Egyptian – Israeli peace treaty of 1979.
Of the $1.8 billion dollars in financial aid to Egypt in 2008, $1.3 billion dollars was used for weaponry. In 2007, the Bush Administration requested $13 billion dollars of financial aid for Egypt that would be spread out over 10 years, the majority of the aid to be spent on weaponry. Recently, the U.S. Department of State requested $1.3 billion dollars in aid for Egypt for 2011. The majority of the Egyptian aid to be spent on weaponry.
With Egypt being a democratic republic with an elected form of government, the recipient of substantial financial aid from the United States for over 35 years and having hosted a recent visit from President Obama, I had anticipated Cairo to be a vibrant modern city to rival those in other Middle Eastern countries. As we drove into the city from the airport, I did notice a lot of construction cranes and building sites in progress. Was Cairo really the city I imagined?
My first impression of Egypt and the Egyptian people can be summarized by “what’s in it for me”. From passport control to the baggage claim to departing the airport, many of us were hit up for money at least 3 times. The requests for a tip or gratuity were encountered numerous times. Things we would take for granted such as a public restroom with toilet tissue was the anomaly in Egypt and if there was toilet tissue it was usually dispensed by a restroom attendant expecting a gratuity. The question I asked was “What added value did the restroom attendant provide us for the gratuity?”
My first meal in Cairo would be at the Marriott’s Egyptian Nights restaurant. A clean inviting place with al fresco dining. The menu did feature roast pigeon which we had been told is a local delicacy. Some of our group did brave outside of our comfort zone by trying the pigeon but found it to be a lot of work for little meat, much like a skinny Cornish Hen. Was Egypt really the country we had been briefed about?
Doing business in Egypt is a challenge according to those business leaders we had encountered during our stay. With only 3 percent of the population owning a car, the division between those “who have” and those “who have not” was very apparent. Driving through the neighborhoods of Cairo, the signs of poverty were everywhere. The very fact that over half a million people live in the cemetery known as the City of the Dead is a telling tale of the strain that the more than 17 million people living in Cairo is putting on the Egyptian government. Where is the Egyptian middle class, crucial for a growing, sustainable economy that will entice more foreign direct investment?
The role of women in Egypt is still very much in transition. From the passport control booths at the airport to the various business meetings we attended in Cairo, if women were present they were relegated to administrative or other support roles. In all the meetings I attended, men were in leadership, decision making roles. During my time in Egypt, I saw only one woman tourist police and that was at the final security checkpoint as we departed for Turkey. Can Egypt afford to limit its future by limiting 50% of the country’s population?
Next : Turkey - A Country Focused on the Future.
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