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U.S. state representatives on Friday called on Turkish investors to invest in the United States by highlighting low-cost and uninterrupted energy advantages, with one official remarking that “Europeans talk, Turks act.”
The outreach was carried out within the framework of the SelectUSA Roadshow 2026, a U.S. federal government program aimed at promoting foreign direct investment, building new business partnerships and supporting economic development. Roadshow meetings were held in Istanbul, Kocaeli and Ankara.
At the Ankara leg of the event, organized in cooperation with the U.S. Embassy Commercial Section, representatives from the U.S. states of Iowa, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia met with Turkish investors at the facilities of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB).
Nathan Lord, president of Shale Crescent USA, told Anadolu Agency that the nonprofit economic development organization aims to attract industrial investment to the shale gas basin covering Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia by emphasizing the region’s low-cost energy advantage.
Lord said energy costs are a decisive factor for heavy industry, noting that sectors such as rubber, glass, automotive, steel and petrochemicals require a continuous and affordable energy supply.
He pointed to the natural gas production capacity of Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, saying the scale of supply is significant at the global level.
“If Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania were a country, they would be the world’s third-largest natural gas producer after the rest of the United States and Russia,” Lord said. “The cheapest natural gas and electricity in the U.S. are found in the Shale Crescent region, which provides unmatched profitability and supply security for energy-intensive manufacturing.”
Lord added that reliable energy access and strong market conditions are key drivers for multinational investment decisions.
Quoting a senior executive from a multinational company operating in the region, Lord said: “‘I have built facilities all over the world and always had to choose whether to be close to energy or close to customers. This is the first place where I did not have to make that choice because both are here.’”
He added that the same conditions apply to Turkish companies considering investment in the region, saying: “After our engagements in Türkiye, we believe dozens of companies will invest in our region.”
Greg Kozera, marketing director of Shale Crescent USA, also spoke to Anadolu Agency, saying industrial investment in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania accelerated following the discovery of shale gas.
Kozera said abundant and affordable energy has driven industrial revitalization, particularly in steel and petrochemical production.
Stressing the importance of infrastructure for industrial growth, Kozera said he observed Türkiye’s ability to rapidly implement infrastructure projects during his visit.
“During my time in Türkiye, I learned this: Europeans talk, Turks act,” Kozera said. “In Türkiye, investors are encouraged, not blocked. I saw new industrial zones rising along the Istanbul-Ankara corridor. In Europe, facilities are closing.”
He advised energy-intensive Turkish companies to prioritize proximity to energy sources when making long-term investment decisions.
“If you are a high-energy user, find the energy first,” Kozera said. “The closer you are to the energy source, the higher your long-term profitability.”
Kozera added that Europe is currently facing economic difficulties, while Türkiye has an opportunity to assume a stronger leadership role in the region.
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