TAİK Organized the Texas-Turkey Business Forum
The Texas-Turkey Business Forum was held in Houston, hosted by the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP) and in collaboration with the American Turkish Business Roundtable. The event was attended by Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar, TAİK Chairman Murat Özyeğin, GHP Executive Committee Chair Steve Kean, and U.S. Trade and Development Agency Director Thomas Hardy.
As part of the forum, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between TAİK’s Texas Committee and its new counterpart organization, GHP, by TAİK Chairman Özyeğin and GHP Executive Committee Chair Kean.
The agreement aims to promote commercial and economic relations between Texas and Türkiye while fostering technical and industrial collaboration between firms and economic institutions. Minister Bayraktar emphasized the significance of energy cooperation between Türkiye and the U.S., stating:
"Türkiye and the U.S. have significant potential to strengthen their strategic cooperation in the energy sector. The increasing LNG trade, renewable energy investments, and technology-driven projects are taking our partnership to a new level. The steps taken today are crucial for energy security, sustainability, and mutual investment opportunities. As Türkiye accelerates its energy transition, we remain committed to enhancing global partnerships."
"Texas Has Become a Critical Hub for Turkish Investments"
TAİK Chairman Özyeğin highlighted the importance of the forum in further strengthening bilateral cooperation in the energy sector and exploring new investment opportunities. He stated:
"We are committed to advancing trade between Türkiye and the U.S. In line with the $100 billion trade volume target set by our presidents in 2019, we have established state-based committees to help Turkish companies become more active in the U.S. market. With over 124 members, TAİK has invested more than $3 billion in the U.S. and has created employment for over 3,000 Americans. Texas, in particular, has become a critical hub for Turkish investments. The MoU signed between TAİK and GHP will further strengthen this cooperation and create new opportunities."
Özyeğin noted that Texas has significant export potential for Türkiye, adding that while it was previously Türkiye’s top export market in the U.S. until 2023, it now ranks second. He also emphasized that bilateral trade volume continues to grow annually.
"Texas has become increasingly attractive for Turkish companies in terms of investment opportunities, with cement and iron-steel products being among the primary sectors for exports. As of today, our investments in Texas have reached a value of $1.3 billion. In 2024, Türkiye’s imports from Texas amounted to $3.2 billion, while exports to Texas totaled $2 billion. Türkiye’s share in Texas’s foreign trade is approximately 0.5%."
Current Developments in the Energy Sector Discussed
During the forum, an "Energy" panel was moderated by Jeffrey Blair, featuring Sabancı Climate Technologies CEO Tolga Kaan Doğancıoğlu, NOV Energy Chairman Gavin Macmillian, and Jones Group International Co-Founder Rich Outzen. The panel was attended by 100 U.S. and Turkish companies.
The panel discussions focused on the latest developments in the energy sector, energy transition, renewable energy resources, and potential collaborations between the two countries.
Additionally, TAİK, the American Turkish Business Roundtable (ATBR), and the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP) hosted the Texas-Türkiye Roundtable Meeting with the participation of Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar. This exclusive meeting brought together representatives from 20 leading energy companies in Texas.
During the roundtable, participants exchanged ideas on existing and potential collaborations in the energy sector, discussing future projects and investment opportunities.
