Hamdi Ulukaya highlights $100 billion Türkiye-US trade goal

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

Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani and chairman of the US-Türkiye Business Council under the US Chamber of Commerce, called for stronger economic ties between Türkiye and the United States. Ulukaya highlighted sustainable trade, employment and the goal of increasing bilateral trade to $100 billion.

Scraper SystemSeptember 22, 2026, 09:39 AM

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

Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani and chairman of the US-Türkiye Business Council under the US Chamber of Commerce, called for stronger economic ties in a 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 relations between the two countries should be expanded further.

The business council led by Ulukaya is working to increase sustainable trade, create new employment opportunities and raise bilateral trade between Türkiye and the United States to $100 billion. This approach combined the message of friendship between the two countries with an agenda focused on trade, investment and employment.

Background to the $100 billion goal

The goal of increasing 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 brought the goal back onto the agenda in subsequent years.

The Turkish Ministry of Trade says work continues toward the $100 billion goal established through an understanding between the leaders of the two countries. Developing investment, exports and sectoral cooperation has been identified as part of efforts to increase trade, while private-sector contacts have also become part of this framework.

Contacts with American companies in Ankara

A delegation of American companies that came to Türkiye in 2026 under Ulukaya's leadership brought the $100 billion trade goal back onto the agenda during its contacts in Ankara. Representatives of 25 American companies took part in the delegation, while the talks focused on investment and trade and emphasized the need to support the goal with concrete steps.

Following these contacts, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received Hamdi Ulukaya, chairman of the US-Türkiye Business Council under the US Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Chobani, at the Presidential Complex. The meeting showed that Ulukaya's efforts to develop Türkiye-US economic ties and support the $100 billion trade goal had also received attention at the highest level.

The emphasis on sustainable trade and employment in Ulukaya's message showed that the economic partnership agenda extends beyond simply increasing trade volume. In addition to political and security issues, Türkiye-US relations are also advancing through investment, exports, cooperation between companies and employment.

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