Руссотурк: Советские Зарубежные Инвестиции и Социальная История Ранней Турецкой Республики

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to introduce and examine the story of Russotürk, which was established as a venture capital company that was established in 1924 with the collaboration of the Soviet Union and Turkey in Istanbul. Russotürk helped the Soviet Union during the 1920s to overcome the obstacles that were put on export goods in the foreign trade of the Russians as it was a joint-stock company. One of the most important tasks undertaken by the company is to promote and increase the export of Soviet goods in the Middle East and Balkan countries such as Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Greece, in which the Soviet Trade Representatives were not allowed to operate. Russotürk, which was trying to attract the attention of the Turkish bourgeoisie, could not prevent the company, with which they were dealing joint business Karadeniz firm, to become partners with White Russians. Thus, the White Russians were effective in the foreign trade of the Soviets until Russotürk was liquidated. Selling Soviet export goods below the average world prices and issuing import licenses in return are among the most criticized issues that the company encountered. Russotürk constantly competed with Arcos and other Soviet economic institutions. The most obvious indication of this competitive situation was the sales of the Soviet agricultural tools in the Turkish market. The founding officials of Russotürk, which had eventful and nontrivial establishment and closure, were tried in the Soviet courts. Russotürk completed its duty and ended its existence when 1927 trade agreement was signed among the Soviet Union and Turkey.