U.S.-Türkiye Trade Nears $50 Billion as Chamber Launches Fellowship

Bilateral trade between the United States and Türkiye now nears $50 billion annually, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce wants the next generation ready to grow it. On October 26, the Chamber's U.S.-Türkiye Business Council launched its Next Generation Fellowship at an inaugural forum in New York City, drawing nearly 200 university students and young professionals. A follow-up forum is already set for December 2, 2026, in Washington, D.C.

The commercial backdrop is strong. The United States ranks as Türkiye's second-largest export market, more than 2,000 U.S.-capitalized companies operate in Türkiye, and Turkish investment in the U.S. keeps climbing — all as the two countries approach a century of formal ties, with cooperation deepening across aviation, technology, manufacturing, energy and defense.

Why a fellowship, and why now?

The Council's answer: people are the resource that matters most. The Fellowship aims to build a focused, sustainable network linking students and young professionals to U.S. and Turkish businesses. Khush Choksy, Senior Vice President for International Member Relations and for Middle East, Central Asia and Türkiye at the U.S. Chamber, framed the mission in his welcoming remarks: "The Next Generation Fellowship connects young talent with corporate opportunity to help serve as the engine of economic growth and investment across both countries."

Chobani's founder on leadership

The day opened with a fireside chat between Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani and chair of the U.S.-Türkiye Business Council, and Diane Brady, Executive Editorial Director at Fortune. Ulukaya reflected on his entrepreneurial journey, his leadership philosophy, the importance of staying connected to one's roots, and the lessons learned from building Chobani. One takeaway: the founder's path from Türkiye to a major U.S. food company is the kind of story the Fellowship wants to make repeatable.

What does the immigration panel cover?

Charting a path from education to employment got its own session. Michelle Hackman, immigration reporter at the Wall Street Journal, moderated a panel on Optional Practical Training, work permits and other key pathways. Parisa Karaahmet and Bahadir Ekiz — Partner and Senior Associate Attorney, respectively, at Fragomen Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy — joined Patrick Shen, Vice President of Immigration Policy at the U.S. Chamber, to demystify a process that daunts many recent graduates.

Can an American degree pay off back in Türkiye?

For many Turkish students, it can. The "Finding Your Path Back Home" session, moderated by Ayşe Guçlu Onur, Partner at Egon Zehnder, examined how returning graduates convert international experience into a competitive edge. Panelists included Valentina Gara, Global Engineer Girls Coordinator at Limak Holding; Beril Karan, Senior Human Resources Manager at Procter & Gamble Türkiye; and Burcu Özdemir, CEO of TBWA Istanbul. They broke down Türkiye's hiring landscape and which skills are in demand.

What do American professionals gain in Türkiye?

Türkiye sits at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and the Middle East — and the Council argues it works as a career launchpad. In a session moderated by Jennifer Miel, Vice President for the Middle East, Central Asia and Türkiye at the U.S. Chamber, three Americans shared their experiences: Mickey Ashmore, CEO and Founder of Sabah Shoes; Liz Clark, Global Policy Director at Bristol Myers Squibb; and Hailey Autumn Hesseltine, a Fulbright Türkiye Alumna and English language instructor. Their time in Türkiye sharpened marketable skills, sparked entrepreneurial ventures and deepened cultural diplomacy.

How do cross-border careers actually get built?

The forum closed with a capstone panel moderated by Ümran Beba, Americas President at Eti and Founder of the Beba Innovation & Entrepreneurship Foundation. Panelists Hande Aksoy, Managing Director, Global Partnerships at Meta; Koray Duman, Founder and Principal of Büro Koray Duman; Yiğit Canay, Advisor to the Türkiye-U.S. Business Council; and Zeynep Güven, Government Affairs Director at Microsoft Türkiye, shared candid stories of building careers across both countries. The through-line: ambition plus opportunity, structured by networks.

The Council, led on this initiative by E. Janset Batibay, says participants left with a sharper read on both markets. The next test comes December 2, 2026, when the Fellowship convenes again in Washington, D.C.