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Leigh Turner

Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna

Part of UK in Turkey

15th July 2013

Why Britain likes Turkey – and links to third markets

DSC_3103Why does Britain like Turkey?  Most of all, it’s because we want to have Turkey as a democratic, stable and prosperous partner.

The more democratic, stable and prosperous Turkey becomes, the better for Britain.  That’s partly because countries which embrace free markets and foreign investment are good trading partners, and trade makes everyone better-off.  It’s partly also because democracy, stability and prosperity tend to go together.  To quote Winston Churchill, “it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that had been tried”.

Another reason we like Turkey is because Turkish companies are active throughout the region.  I’ve blogged before about how our Consulate-General in Istanbul and Embassy in Ankara are working increasingly closely with colleagues in Embassies in the South Caucasus and Central Asia to boost business links, including with Turkish firms, and about other business opportunities.

Results are good:  We have just linked up a British architectural practice with companies operating both in Turkey and in Azerbaijan.  We’ve also signed an agreement with MUSIAD to promote UK/Turkish partnership between construction service companies in third markets (I tweeted about this on @leighturnerfco – hope you’re following – including 10 reasons to invest in Turkey).  We’re planning a new partnership event with Turkish contractors working in northern Iraq later this year.

Boosting business links is good for everyone.  If we can work with Turkish companies in third markets, that will be even better.  Let’s get cracking.

About Leigh Turner

I hope you find this blog interesting and, where appropriate, entertaining. My role in Vienna covers the relationship between Austria and the UK as well as the diverse work of…

I hope you find this blog interesting and, where appropriate, entertaining. My role in Vienna covers the relationship between Austria and the UK as well as the diverse work of the UN and other organisations; stories here will reflect that.

About me: I arrived in Vienna in August 2016 for my second posting in this wonderful city, having first served here in the mid-1980s. My previous job was as HM Consul-General and Director-General for Trade and Investment for Turkey, Central Asia and South Caucasus based in Istanbul.

Further back: I grew up in Nigeria, Exeter, Lesotho, Swaziland and Manchester before attending Cambridge University 1976-79. I worked in several government departments before joining the Foreign Office in 1983.

Keen to go to Africa and South America, I’ve had postings in Vienna (twice), Moscow, Bonn, Berlin, Kyiv and Istanbul, plus jobs in London ranging from the EU Budget to the British Overseas Territories.

2002-6 I was lucky enough to spend four years in Berlin running the house, looking after the children (born 1992 and 1994) and doing some writing and journalism.

To return to Vienna as ambassador is a privilege and a pleasure. I hope this blog reflects that.

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