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A high-level delegation of leading U.S. companies, led by yogurt brand Chobani’s CEO and U.S.-Türkiye Business Council head Hamdi Ulukaya, is holding a series of meetings in Ankara aimed at accelerating economic ties and advancing the $100 billion bilateral trade goal.
The group brings together representatives from 25 major firms, including Amazon, Uber, and Google, with a combined market value exceeding $3 trillion, and is meeting Türkiye’s top economic and political leadership to focus on trade, energy, and technology cooperation.
The delegation’s first day in Ankara opened with a roundtable hosted by Defense Minister Yasar Guler, where discussions leaned into regional security dynamics and Türkiye’s role within NATO.
Participants explored opportunities for deeper cooperation in defense production, with a particular focus on domestic manufacturing capabilities.
Later in the evening, the group met with Turkish business leaders at a dinner hosted by Rifat Hisarciklioglu, attended by Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz.
Conversations there turned toward investment prospects under Türkiye’s 12th Development Plan and investor confidence in the country’s macroeconomic policy framework.
Speaking at the event, Hamdi Ulukaya framed the visit as more than symbolic, noting that the delegation arrived with concrete investment plans and partnership proposals. He stressed that Türkiye’s economic stabilization program is beginning to yield visible results, adding that U.S. companies are positioning themselves to take part in that trajectory.
"Being here with leaders of 25 major companies is the clearest sign of our confidence in Türkiye’s potential," he said, adding that the delegation represents both U.S. investors looking at Türkiye and Turkish companies already active in the U.S. market.
He also underlined that the $100 billion target is not merely symbolic but tied to tangible steps both sides are expected to take, built on a shared alliance framework.
The delegation’s schedule continues with a packed lineup of meetings across key ministries. It met Trade Minister Omer Bolat on Tuesday, where discussions centered on easing customs procedures, refining e-commerce regulations, and strengthening intellectual property protections, all seen as key barriers to expanding trade.
Talks with Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar are expected to focus on LNG, renewable energy, and supply security.
Engagements with Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek will assess the macroeconomic outlook and foreign direct investment incentives, for which Turkish officials recently signaled preparations to extend the existing support framework for investors.
Discussions are also planned with Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu on 5G infrastructure and digital transport systems, followed by talks with Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir covering artificial intelligence, R&D incentives, and technology zones.
U.S. companies are the second-largest investors in Türkiye after the Netherlands, with total investment reaching $15.9 billion in 2025 across 2,283 firms, accounting for 7.8% of all international investments in the country, according to official data.
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