Prime Minister's London trip
PM Davutoğlu met with key figures in London, Davos and Berlin to speak of Turkey's potential and announce its readiness for new collaborations with prospective partners who are seeking safe havens for new investments in the world economy
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu's three-country tour of Western Europe takes place against the backdrop of proxy wars and an aggressive smear campaign against his country abroad and counterterrorism operations at home. In an effort to convey the message that Turkey continues to implement political and economic reforms while fighting terrorists, Mr. Davutoğlu met key figures in London, Davos and Berlin over the past week.
During the weeks leading up to the historic visit, the government unveiled a new economic reforms package as the prime minister received chief executives from international companies investing in Turkey. What started out as a new offensive continues with a meeting between Turkish leaders and London's financiers, world leaders in Davos and Germany, Europe's economic powerhouse.
Although Davutoğlu's London trip primarily focused on economic developments, it was also heavy on politics considering Britain's close relations with Washington and worrying developments in the Middle East. In this sense, it was noteworthy that the prime minister was accompanied not only by economists and industrialists but also political heavyweights such as AK Party spokesman Ömer Çelik, Agriculture Minister Mehdi Eker, former Customs minister Hayati Yazıcı and former economy chief Ali Babacan.
During meetings with representatives from the multi-trillion dollar finance industry, the delegation highlighted Turkey's ability to maintain high growth despite major challenges and made the point that they could achieve a lot of things until the next election cycle starts in 2018. Desperately looking for safe havens at a time when the world economy remains in trouble, investors called on the government to implement reforms.
Political challenges were another source of concern. A number of London executives notably inquired about Turkey's take on the emerging Russian-Iranian alliance, tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran and the West's decision to lift economic sanctions on Tehran.
According to government officials and Turkish industrialists, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu's Western Europe trip was a success. During one-on-ones with Turkish business giants Ali Koç, Nihat Özdemir, Bülent Eczacıbaşı, Cemal Kalyoncu, Hüseyin Arslan, İbrahim Çeçen, Fuat Tosyalı, Adnan Çebi, Ethem Sancak, Murat Özyeğin, Ali Kibar and Serdar Bilgili, it was clear that big business had finally turned over a new leaf and is now looking forward to the future.
During the weeks leading up to the historic visit, the government unveiled a new economic reforms package as the prime minister received chief executives from international companies investing in Turkey. What started out as a new offensive continues with a meeting between Turkish leaders and London's financiers, world leaders in Davos and Germany, Europe's economic powerhouse.
Although Davutoğlu's London trip primarily focused on economic developments, it was also heavy on politics considering Britain's close relations with Washington and worrying developments in the Middle East. In this sense, it was noteworthy that the prime minister was accompanied not only by economists and industrialists but also political heavyweights such as AK Party spokesman Ömer Çelik, Agriculture Minister Mehdi Eker, former Customs minister Hayati Yazıcı and former economy chief Ali Babacan.
During meetings with representatives from the multi-trillion dollar finance industry, the delegation highlighted Turkey's ability to maintain high growth despite major challenges and made the point that they could achieve a lot of things until the next election cycle starts in 2018. Desperately looking for safe havens at a time when the world economy remains in trouble, investors called on the government to implement reforms.
Political challenges were another source of concern. A number of London executives notably inquired about Turkey's take on the emerging Russian-Iranian alliance, tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran and the West's decision to lift economic sanctions on Tehran.
According to government officials and Turkish industrialists, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu's Western Europe trip was a success. During one-on-ones with Turkish business giants Ali Koç, Nihat Özdemir, Bülent Eczacıbaşı, Cemal Kalyoncu, Hüseyin Arslan, İbrahim Çeçen, Fuat Tosyalı, Adnan Çebi, Ethem Sancak, Murat Özyeğin, Ali Kibar and Serdar Bilgili, it was clear that big business had finally turned over a new leaf and is now looking forward to the future.