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Representatives from seven US states gathered in Ankara this week to pitch investment opportunities to Turkish companies, highlighting growing American interest in deepening economic ties with Türkiye across aviation, automotive, food processing, and emerging technology sectors.
The SelectUSA Roadshow, hosted Thursday by the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) in collaboration with the US Embassy's commercial service, brought development officials from Iowa, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia to encourage Turkish firms to establish US operations.
The recruitment effort reflects Türkiye's rising profile as a strategic partner for American states seeking foreign investment, with officials citing the country's established strengths in manufacturing and agriculture as natural complements to regional US economies.
Sergio Domingues, who leads the Europe Office of South Carolina's Commerce Department, said he visited Türkiye at least four times last year as the country "has become a very important and strategic market" for his office. He pointed to a recent success story involving a Turkish copper processing company that went from initial contact to facility selection in just 100 days, with production expected to begin in March.
"We see that a lot of these companies already have and enjoy sales and partnerships in the US and they are trying to develop it or take those relationships to a new level," Domingues said. The state offers Turkish firms free consultative services to navigate US market entry, positioning South Carolina as "a gateway, or as a landing pad for the largest economy in the world."
The copper processor's arrival addresses growing US demand for the metal, which has been categorized as a critical mineral due to its use in electric vehicles and data centers.
Iowa representatives highlighted the Midwestern state's dominance in biosciences and agriculture-related technology. Juliet Abdel, president and CEO of Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, said Iowa employs 68,000 people through foreign direct investment and nearly 400,000 residents rely on international trade.
The state offers 63 different incentive programs covering tax credits, exemptions, rebates, and loans, Abdel said. She emphasized Iowa's welcoming stance toward Turkish businesses, noting Cedar Rapids was founded by immigrants and is home to America's first mosque, which remains active.
"We've engaged with several different interested businesses in expanding more into manufacturing and in the aerospace cluster," Abdel said. She cited renewed focus on increasing trade relations and referenced the relationship between US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a positive factor.
Virginia officials emphasized the state's concentration of defense contractors, shipbuilding operations, and the world's highest density of data centers. Antje Abshoff, vice president of foreign direct investment at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, said Turkish companies could integrate into supply chains for Virginia's aerospace and defense industries.
"I believe that there is great potential for cooperation with Türkiye, and there is also great potential for Turkish companies to participate in the supply chain for the defense, shipbuilding, and aerospace sectors," Abshoff said after visiting multiple Turkish cities including Ankara, Istanbul, Kocaeli, Izmir, and Bursa.
The state already hosts several Turkish companies and offers direct flights to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines, providing infrastructure advantages for firms seeking to scale operations in the United States, she said.
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