INS AND OUTS

I know from experience that one of the most difficult things when visiting a foreign country is starting a conversation as soon as the business talk is over. People usually try to comment on local topics to show their interest. However, if you do not live there, it is always a tricky business to come up with fresh comments and to avoid the ones that have lost local appeal.

The following are some examples of “ins” and “outs” from the Turkish perspective. The “outs” are the ones that have been around for a long time—people are tired of talking about these topics. The “ins” is fresh topics, and you can find a lot of people interested in offering opinions on them.

Out: Accession talks with the European Union

In: The future of the European Union

Out: Turkey’s potential

In: The impact of Turkey’s current credit rating on foreign direct investment

Out: The global crisis

In: Health and growth of emerging markets (Decoupling of emerging markets)

Out: The business potential in Istanbul

In: The Anatolian Tigers

Out: Internationally known Turkish manufacturers

In: Internationally known Turkish brands

Out: Tourism and textile production as the main drivers of the economy

In: Becoming an energy corridor and a power center of other sectors

Out: Superiority of some nations in macro and microeconomics

In: At the end of the day, we are all the same

Out: Trading with the West is essential for growth

In: Trading with the world is essential for growth

I hope a few topics from the above menu will help you through your conversations.

Enjoy.