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G r e a t e r W a s h i n g t o n D C M e t r o p o l i t a n A r e a - ( U S A )
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Turkish Delegation Visits Maryland
In 2009, President Barack Obama selected the Republic of Turkey as a pivotal port of call in his first trip
abroad as the new President of the United States. That symbolic visit led to the launch of an initiative to
boost trade and investment ties between the two strategic allies under what was called a “model
partnership,” culminating in a $ 17 billion mutual trade volume. Following in the footsteps of the
President, US Senator John Kerry will also visit Turkey in his first international tour as the new American
Secretary of State. These visits further underline the significance of American-Turkish relations for this
administration. As the 16
th
strongest economy in the world, Turkey is not only an important geopolitical
ally, but also an increasingly valuable commercial partner.
It is in this spirit of expanding bi-lateral relation that Abundances, LLC (Abundances) is proud to welcome
a high level delegation from the coastal city of Trabzon, Turkey to the State of Maryland for a week-long
visit. A picturesque Northern city on the coast of the Black Sea, Trabzon is renowned for its diverse
multitude of endemic, medicinal and aromatic plants well suited for the biomedical industry, an industry
with a strong presence in the State of Maryland. “Given the high level of unfamiliarity that still exists
between the two great cultures, we at Abundances believe that building State-to-State trade and
investment relations is an innovative approach to complement the overall expansion of American-Turkish
partnership,” says Azita Moghaddam, President of Abundances, a minority owned consultancy company
based in Maryland. “In Turkey,” Ms. Moghaddam continues,” American businesses can find a young,
dynamic, up and coming market of over 70 million consumers eager to look beyond their traditional
partners in the European community, and additionally act as a gateway to a staggering market of a
quarter million consumers in North Africa and West Asia.”
During the last two decades the prospect of access to European markets has fueled Turkey’s drive to
boost its private sector and strengthen its adherence to internationally accepted good business practices,
rendering Turkey, a democratic, secular, non-Arab country a shining star among the developing Arab
nations in its periphery.
Leading the visiting delegation is Dr. Recep Kizilcik, the Governor of Trabzon and a leader in the ruling
AK Party. Governor Kizilcik is accompanied by leading officials including the presidents of Trabzon’s
Chamber of Commerce, Black Sea Region Development Agency and Culture and Tourism Agency.
During their visit, the delegation is scheduled to meet with dignitaries including Maryland’s Governor
Martin O'Malley, Secretary of State of Maryland, members of US Congress’s Turkish Caucus, members
of Maryland’s State Legislature, US Chamber of Commerce, Port of Baltimore Authorities, as well as
representatives from a number of Maryland-based biotech companies.
For media inquiries and interviews please contact: Azita Moghaddam (azita@abundances.net).