Turkey, US economic ties should reach 'full potential': Erdoğan

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sept. 20 called on businesspeople in the United States to believe in Turkey's potential and make investments in the country.

"I would like to remind you that the doors of our relevant institutions and organizations in Turkey and our representative offices in America are always open to you. I expect you to continue to trust Turkey's bright future and potential," he said, addressing the Turkey-U.S. Business Council.

Ankara develops locally-focused trade policies for 50 states of America with different sectoral priorities, he said, adding that while the government sincerely works in this direction, some unilateral practices of the U.S. against Turkey that prevent trade complicate this work. "However, we believe that these issues will be resolved through dialogue on the basis of mutual interest and understanding," he said.

Turkey expects businesspeople to take initiatives before American authorities to remove the barriers in bilateral trade, Erdoğan said.

"There is no doubt that the contributions of you and the business councils for the advancement of Turkish-American relations will have a multiplier effect. I know that you see very well the real purpose and danger posed by the baseless smear campaigns against our country by some lobbies and interest groups whose sole agenda is to poison Turkish-American relations. I believe that you will take a firm stance against these malicious activities that are far from legal and historical facts," he stated.

The president said he expects economic relations between Turkey and the U.S. to grow to reach their "real full potential."

"This very special and steadfast cooperation of ours has contributed to peace, stability and...