Hamdi Ulukaya highlights $100 billion Türkiye-US trade target

Hamdi Ulukaya calls for a $100 billion trade target in Türkiye-US ties

Hamdi Ulukaya, founder of Chobani and chair of the US-Türkiye Business Council, called for stronger economic ties to mark 100 years of friendship between Türkiye and the United States. Ulukaya highlighted efforts to raise bilateral trade to $100 billion through sustainable trade and employment goals.

Scraper SystemSeptember 22, 2026, 09:39 AM

Hamdi Ulukaya calls for a $100 billion trade target in Türkiye-US ties

Hamdi Ulukaya, founder of Chobani and chair of the US-Türkiye Business Council, issued a special message marking 100 years of friendship between Türkiye and the United States. Describing Türkiye as the place where his journey began and America as the country where he turned his dreams into reality, Ulukaya said economic ties between the two countries should grow further.

Ulukaya said the business council he leads is working to increase sustainable trade, create new employment opportunities and raise bilateral trade between Türkiye and the United States to $100 billion. This framework linked the message to the trade and investment agenda rather than making it solely an assessment of friendship between the two countries.

The $100 billion target comes to the fore again

The goal of raising trade between Türkiye and the United States to $100 billion emerged as a long-term objective in 2018, following meetings between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and then-US President Donald Trump. Turkish public institutions and business representatives from both countries reiterated the target in subsequent years.

Sources at Türkiye’s Ministry of Trade also said work was continuing toward the $100 billion target established במסגרת an understanding between the leaders of the two countries. While the development of investment, exports and sectoral cooperation was emphasized as necessary to increase trade, private-sector contacts were among the key elements of this economic framework.

Business contacts intensify in Ankara

An American business delegation that visited Türkiye under Ulukaya’s leadership in 2026 brought the $100 billion trade target back to the agenda. The delegation, which included representatives of 25 American companies, focused on investment and trade during its contacts in Ankara, with the message that the target should be supported by concrete steps emerging as a key theme.

Following these contacts, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received Hamdi Ulukaya, chair of the US-Türkiye Business Council within the US Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Chobani, at the Presidential Complex. The meeting was among the developments showing that Ulukaya’s efforts to advance Türkiye-US economic ties and support the $100 billion trade target had also received attention at the highest level.

The prominence of sustainable trade and employment in Ulukaya’s message showed that the economic partnership agenda is not limited to increasing trade volume. Alongside political and security issues, Türkiye-US relations are also being addressed through investment, exports, cooperation between companies and employment.

Hamdi Ulukaya calls for a $100 billion trade target in Türkiye-US ties