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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

22nd January 2014

Turkey and Britain: Open to Export

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The first click brings up a Turkish company seeking bids to repair a turbine generator system.  Further down there is an analysis of recent economic developments in Turkey; and a question (and answer) about how to open a cupcake store with English recipes.

Welcome to the Turkey page of the ‘Open to Export’ website.

Open to Export is a community-driven service, launched in 2012, to help British exporters.  The idea is that companies can post questions to users who have the exporting knowledge and experience to help guide others in taking their business overseas.

The site is also a repository of information from UK Trade and Investment and other Government organisations (eg the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) about different countries.

I can guarantee there’s some great stuff on there.

The idea is that the Open to Export website will help companies find information about new markets; will help them to connect with new customers; and will give them the knowledge to help overcome hurdles that may stand in their way.

What’s more, it’s free.

Ever since I’ve been working on commercial and economic work (nearly 30 years now) we have faced the challenge of bringing the detailed local knowledge of posts overseas directly to the attention of potential exporting firms across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom.

Open to Export looks to me like one of the best efforts to achieve that connection we’ve ever had.

Check it out – I recommend you click on “All”, or “Questions” to begin with, and take it from there.

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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export trade Turkey uk ukti

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