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Turkish American community leader and businessman Israfil Demir is calling for a more practical private-sector strategy to help Türkiye and the United States move closer to the long-standing $100 billion bilateral trade goal.Drawing on his experience with MÜSİAD USA, the Turkish American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TACCI), and the broader Turkish American business community, Demir believes Türkiye already has the manufacturing strength, entrepreneurial culture and industrial capacity needed to expand significantly in the U.S. market.
“Türkiye has strong manufacturers, family-owned businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises that are capable of competing internationally,” Demir said. “The opportunity now is to help more of these companies understand how to build a permanent presence in the United States.”
Demir also brings firsthand commercial experience to the issue. Before expanding his work in community leadership and U.S.–Türkiye business relations, he was involved in the textile industry and sourced products directly from manufacturers in Denizli, one of Türkiye’s leading textile and home-textile production centers.
“My textile experience allowed me to see Turkish manufacturing from the buyer’s perspective,” Demir said. “I worked directly with manufacturers in Denizli and saw their quality, flexibility and production capabilities. Türkiye does not have a manufacturing problem. The real challenge is positioning, distribution and market access.”
Demir points to industrial and export centers including Istanbul, Bursa, Denizli, Gaziantep, Konya, Kayseri and Izmir as examples of Türkiye’s diverse production base.
For many Turkish exporters, however, manufacturing a competitive product and quoting an attractive FOB price is only the beginning.
“American buyers are looking at landed cost, lead time, inventory availability, certifications, payment terms and after-sales support,” Demir said. “A Turkish company may have an excellent factory, but if its competitor has inventory sitting in a U.S. warehouse, that can determine who wins the business.”
He believes Turkish companies should invest more heavily in U.S.-based warehousing, distributors, sales teams, trade shows, local partnerships, regulatory compliance and brand development.
Demir also sees an important role for DEİK and its Türkiye-U.S. Business Council, TAİK, in strengthening institutional cooperation, connecting business communities and encouraging greater investment in both directions.
According to Demir, the Turkish American business community can complement these efforts by helping companies understand both American regulations and American business culture.
“The $100 billion goal will not be reached by governments alone,” Demir said. “It will be built through thousands of contracts, investments, partnerships and entrepreneurs.”
For Demir, the objective should extend beyond increasing exports.
“The real opportunity is to help Turkish companies become American market participants — with brands, distribution networks, investments and long-term relationships,” he said. “That is how we create sustainable trade and stronger economic ties between Türkiye and the United States.”