AMBASSADOR'S REMARKS
Ambassador Wilson’s Remarks at the Opening of "Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Project"
Ankara, Turkey
Monday, June 30, 2008
Ambassador Wilson: Thank you very much. Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you this afternoon. I think your comments have basically covered everything that I could possibly say. Nevertheless, since I’m here I have to have something to say so I’ll make a couple of observations about why we’re supporting this particular program and our vision for it.
Two weeks ago, I took part in the opening of a conference on building innovation economy and society that was hosted in Istanbul by the American Business Forum in Turkey. This conference looked primarily at government policies that have been pursued in other countries that have helped to transform less-innovative and slower growing economies into great success stories. The most interesting speaker at this conference was a man from Ireland who described the transformation of his country in the course of his lifetime; he’s about 55 years old and is from Europe’s poorest country. He’s seen Western Europe’s poorest country transform into one of its richest. He talked about aggressive programs in universities to raise the level of education, to connect universities with business, policies to reduce government regulation, government red tape, taxes, and policies to promote investment in knowledge-based industries to promote the protection of intellectual property rights.
This speaker and others painted a picture of the opportunities that are available to Turkey and to Turkish citizens. These opportunities are accessible by tapping into great technological changes and by finding ways to really unleash the potential of the smart, talented, and capable people in this country. The papers and I think many of the speeches or remarks made by different speakers at this event are to be published and I would encourage you to make those available or accessible to participants in this program. Because of the experiences of several countries including Ireland, Singapore, and Korea their examples show that it is possible to build and economy that provides jobs for young people. For all of the countries it’s the young people who take the opportunities and thus their resulting wealth transforms a generation.
Besides, supporting a policy dialogue with the government authorities of this country will build a stronger and more competitive economy for the future. We want to approach this issue on entrepreneurship and innovation, not just on the policy level but also at the retail level where it affects young people here. And that’s the origin of this youth entrepreneurship or youth innovation and entrepreneurship program as far as we’re concerned, as far as I’m concerned. We’re very pleased to join the Turkish Education Association to develop this program and to carry it out in ways that will support creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship among high school students all around the country.
The program will focus on five cities, Ankara, Diyarbakir, Adiyaman, Polatli and Izmir; and the program provides that students in each of these cities will establish teams. Those teams will establish virtual, artificial companies, develop business ideas, develop and draft a business plan and then work the plan in conjunction with their advisors and local business. There is a bilateral component to this; students will have the opportunity for an exchange with American students who are developing similar work. And at the end of the program, teams from each of these schools will meet in Ankara to present their business plans and this event will be open to the public.
While I was serving in Azerbaijan as Ambassador, I participated in exactly one of these competitions of different groups presenting their business plans; it was a lot of fun to see how quickly these high school students had figured out business, had figured out how to put together a plan, had figured out a method that they can use to build them a successful life for themselves and I think also for the country.
I hope that this will be interesting and fun for the Turkish participants. My own personal hidden agenda is that this will be seen as an interesting enough idea for Turkish and American businesses that there will be interest in continuing this program and expanding it to other cities in this country. And of course I hope this program, especially the work with the Turkish Education Association, will contribute at least in a small way to Turkey’s economic success.
I’d like again to thank the Turkish Education Association for helping with this project and implementing this project. My Embassy, the U.S. Government is proud to be working with this organization. I hope that it will demonstrate to the students participating that their ideas can and do matter and that their ideas can be put into a form that contributes to economic growth and to wealth in this country. By matching the tremendous brain power, energy and creativity that I know Turkish students have together with some solid business planning skills that this can be a step that helps to build successful business and then expands business relations between our two countries.
Thank you very much for your interest. Cok tesekkur ederim.
Q&A at the Opening of "Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Project"
Ankara, Turkey
Monday, June 30, 2008
Question: Mr Ambassador, The New Yorker magazine claims the U.S. is using PJAK against Iran. What will you say about the claims by this magazine? Does the U.S. cooperate with PJAK?
Ambassador Wilson: The U.S. is not cooperating with PJAK. We don’t have any relationship with PJAK. We consider it a terrorist group.
Question: Do you think [Erdogan’s visit to Baghdad] will be a positive step for Turkish Iraqi relations?
Ambassador Wilson: I think it’s unquestionably a positive step for Turkish-Iraqi relations. We’ve encouraged dialogue between the two countries. Turkey has played a very important and supportive role to the government of Iraq and to the Iraqi people who are working to try to rebuild a strong, stable, and secure society. I’m sure the Prime Minister’s visit will be an important step forward.
Question: How would you consider a meeting with Iraqi Kurds? If Erdogan met with Iraqi Kurds? How would you consider this?
Ambassador Wilson: I don’t want to address this specific issue but we certainly have encouraged dialogue with all elements of Iraqi society, and that includes the Iraqi Kurds.
Question: Thank you.