Michigan Leaders Seek Business Partnerships with Turkey

Michigan and Turkey share a passion for cars, spend a lot of time farming, love entertaining visitors and both have a close connection with water. More than 50 Michigan leaders went to Turkey earlier this month for a four-day conference titled the "Turkey-Michigan Forum: University-Industry Collaboration and R&D Trends." Attendees came from the private sector, public sector and academia. The Prima Civitas Foundation (PCF), an economic development corporation in Lansing, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the International Business Center of the Michigan State University Broad College of Business co-hosted the event with the Turkish Resource Center of North America (TRCNA), the Turkish Ministry of Economy and the Turkish Exporters'' Association, among other Turkish institutions. Conference attendees discussed a number of topics pertinent to both Michigan and Turkey, including food production, connections between education and industry, water and energy security, government and industry partnerships, trends in auto manufacturing and trends in environmental and international law. At the forum, representatives from both regions signed five Memorandums of Understandings (MOUs), establishing partnerships that will ease future trade in the garment and textile, automotive and mineral and metal industries.