Wednesday, June 22, 2011
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone said the United States aimed to boost cooperation with Turkey through an entrepreneurship program.
Ricciardone said entrepreneurship was a common interest of both Turkey and the United States.
The United States aimed to further improve its cooperation with Turkey through global entrepreneurship program, Ricciardone said in Ankara.
Ricciardone and Rifat Hisarciklioglu, the chairman of the Union of Chambers & Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), signed a memorandum of understanding on a new “global entrepreneurship program” in order to support entrepreneurship in Turkey.
The ambassador said Turkish economy grew three-folds in the last decade, and Turkish exports were up by four-folds.
Ricciardone said U.S.-Turkish trade had been up 60 percent since the beginning of 2011 over 2010.
The U.S. ambassador said the program would help the United States contribute to Turkey’s economic growth, and raise trade volume and investments between the two countries.
Ricciardone said a U.S. entrepreneurs delegation would visit Turkey within the scope of the program and take place in a competition in which new ideas would be exhibited.
An entrepreneurship summit would take place in Turkey this fall, Ricciardone also said.
Within the scope of the program, the United States will lead business delegations to Turkey in order to boost relations between Turkish-U.S. investors.
A delegation comprised of entrepreneurs and investments from the Silicon Valley will also visit Turkey in December.
Moreover, entrepreneurship curriculum will be developed in pilot universities in Turkey.
The Global Entrepreneurship Program (GEP) is a U.S. State Department-led effort to promote and spur entrepreneurship around the world. The GEP highlights the United States’ commitment to use our entrepreneurial culture to advance entrepreneurship in emerging markets and developing countries.
The U.S. Department of State has the unique ability to play the role of convener, coordinator and connector.
Utilizing this ability, the GEP marshals primarily non-governmental partners around six key areas that are essential to creating a successful entrepreneurial ecosystem. These six areas include: identifying promising entrepreneurs, training them, connecting and sustaining entrepreneurs, guiding them to capital, advocating for supportive policy and regulations, and celebrating their successes. (AA)