Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, announced plans to open an office in Türkiye dedicated to sourcing a variety of Turkish goods, including furniture and frozen foods. The office will position Türkiye as an important sourcing hub for Walmart, according to Tankut Turnaoğlu, head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Türkiye (AmCham Türkiye).
Turnaoğlu noted that the move aligns with a broader surge in U.S. business interest in Türkiye, which has seen trade volumes between the two nations double to roughly $40 billion over the past five years. “The U.S. views Türkiye as a key business partner in the region, with American companies increasingly investing in various sectors, from defense and aviation to energy and logistics,” Turnaoğlu stated during the AmChams Eurasia Economic Summit in Istanbul.
With an ambitious target to bring U.S.-Türkiye trade to $100 billion by 2028 or 2029, Walmart’s new office represents a significant step toward this goal. Around 2,000 American companies are now active in Türkiye, bringing total U.S. investment in the country to $60 billion. Notable U.S. firms like Boeing and General Electric are expanding their partnerships with Turkish companies, underscoring the country’s strategic regional role.
Turkish exports to the U.S. have also surged, fueled by high demand for items like automobiles, machinery, textiles, chemicals, and furniture. Turkish Airlines plays a significant role in supporting this trade growth, now flying to 14 U.S. cities and providing critical cargo capacity. According to Turnaoğlu, nearly half of Türkiye’s e-exports are bound for the U.S., largely facilitated by Turkish Airlines’ logistical network.
Walmart’s Türkiye office will support increased export opportunities for Turkish producers, potentially driving substantial trade growth and further solidifying Türkiye’s position as a key regional business hub.
