GROWING SALES TO
TURKEY
By
Gregory Harris
U.S.
Department of Commerce
Grand
Rapids Export
Assistance Center
Why consider
Turkey?
Turkey has
always been a
strategic country
because it is the
historical and
geographical nexus
between Europe and the
Middle East and is
considered one of the
markets of the future.
Turkey is
predominately Muslim,
yet maintains a strong
Western focus.
The country has
been a traditional
U.S. ally and is a
member of the World
Trade Organization (WTO).
Turkey will
enter the European
Union (EU) in the
summer of 2004.
Sales potential
to this market should
be not be
underestimated, given
that the U.S.
continues to be
Turkey’s second
largest trading
partner.
The most promising
sectors for US firms
include:
telecommunications
equipment and
services, natural gas
equipment, electrical
power equipment,
automotive parts and
services, franchising,
medical equipment,
building materials,
plastics, and
architectural –
construction –
engineering services.
Some of the
industries that fit
well with Michigan’s
manufacturing
community will
continue to see
opportunities and
growth.
The automotive
market in Turkey will
continue providing
Michigan’s exporting
community with sales
growth potential.
Automobile
production reached a
record high in 2003
while only reaching
slightly over fifty
percent of production
capacity.
Continued
growth is forecast for
the domestic market
and the regional
market in near Asia
and in the future
Iraq.
American
medical products
continue to be sought
after by the Turkish
medical community.
Although the
government remains the
biggest purchaser of
medical equipment, the
growing private
healthcare sector is
raising the
sophistication and
demand for
higher-level medical
care and products.
These
developments bode well
for American
companies.
Agricultural
goods with promise
include:
soybeans,
vegetable oils, corn,
animal fats, rice, and
retail products.
The US Embassy
reports that the most
successful way of
entering the Turkish
market has been
through carefully
selected agents and
distributors.
Companies that
will sell substantial
amounts to the
government entities in
Turkey should ensure
that their potential
partners have a
substantive presence
in the capital.
The U.S.
Department of Commerce
can be an effective
gateway into Turkey
with a wide range of
programs and services
to assist with the
sale of U.S. and
Michigan made
products.
In Turkey, the
Commerce Department
supports American
business through
offices in Istanbul,
Ankara and Izmir.
Turkey is also seen
as one of the future
points of entry for
the market in Iraq.
The Commerce
Department maintains
two commercial
officers in Iraq and
has established a task
force for US firms
interested in pursuing
potential business
opportunities there.
For additional
information, please
see:
www.export.gov/iraq
For additional
information:
For information and
communications
technology related
products, please see: http://www.emich.edu/ict_usa/TURKEY.htm.
Gregory
Harris is an
international trade
specialist with the
U.S. Department of
Commerce’s Export
Assistance Center in
Grand Rapids
(616-458-3564).
Date Updated: March 27, 2007
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