Business Diplomat: Received by Presidents

From history, Prof. Dr. Ragıp Kutay Karaca moves to the present. In this part of its interview series, Business Diplomat presents his description of what happens when a large investor arrives in a foreign country.

First observation: the reception
“Today, large businessmen invest all over the world. When they go to the countries they invest in, they are received and hosted by the president, the prime minister and government officials of that country.”
The scene is familiar. An investor is not treated as an ordinary visitor; the highest officials of the host country receive him. This treatment reflects the importance given to his investment.

Second observation: the home state as investor
“In this process, the states to which businessmen belong also become an investor in that country through the businessman.”
This is the central idea. The investor carries the flag, whether or not he intends to. When his company invests, his home country acquires a stake in the host country’s economy. His success and conduct therefore reflect on his state.

The logic of the assessment
Investors are received at the highest level. The home state becomes an investor through them. The business person thus holds a role that is partly political, whatever his own intentions.

The role of Business Diplomat
The platform’s mission is to give young people experience, bring a diplomatic order to the business world, and benefit states by revitalising the economy. Karaca’s point explains why young business people need diplomatic awareness: their actions abroad carry weight beyond their company. Business Diplomat can prepare them for that responsibility.

Conclusion
Big investors are received like envoys, and through them their states become investors abroad. Business Diplomat aims to help young professionals understand what that means.