“WE WANT MORE TRADE, NOT AID”

It all began in 1984-1985 with the following statement made by then Prime Minister Turgut Özal to then US President Ronald Reagan:

“We don’t want aid, but we want more trade.”

Özal’s words paved the way for the private sector to estab lish the Türkiye-US Business Council (TAIK) in 1985. The TAIK model eventually led to steps being taken to establish business councils with other countries as well.

Then, under the leadership of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), an umbrella or ganization emerged:

The Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK)…

DEIK, together with the business councils under its umbrella, took on a very important task for Türkiye:

Business diplomacy…

I have closely followed the work of DEIK and the business councils on “business diplomacy” for 30-35 years during the travels of ministers, 11th President Abdullah Gül, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and I have witnessed its positive impact on Türkiye.

The work of the business councils, which extends from Latin American countries to Africa, the Gulf countries, and the Far East, primarily China, has led to increased trade and cooperation with the countries involved.

In short, the “ business diplomacy” approach, which began with Özal’s words, “We don’t want aid, we want more trade,” has taken root.