North Rhine-Westphalia Premier Hendrik Wüst Begins Three-Day Visit to Turkey
Hendrik Wüst, the head of Germany’s most populous state, started a three-day trip to Turkey to commemorate the 65th anniversary of a historic labor recruitment pact.
The premier of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst, launched a three-day official visit to Turkey, marking the 65th anniversary of the German-Turkish labor recruitment treaty that led to the influx of Turkish guest workers. His itinerary begins with political talks in Ankara and continues to Istanbul for an economic conference. During the Istanbul stop, Wüst will award a prize for tolerance and cultural reconciliation to former German national team captain Ilkay Gündoğan.
The state he governs hosts roughly a third of all people of Turkish origin in Germany. Trade between North Rhine-Westphalia and Turkey amounts to about €10-12 billion annually, representing roughly one-fifth of total German-Turkish commerce, according to Deutsche Presse-Agentur figures.
Why it matters
The visit underscores the enduring economic and social ties between Germany and Turkey and highlights the role of guest-worker history in current trade relations.
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