Note: This article is one in a five-part series on bright spots in a dim 2009. Overview

Turkey's government couldn't have planned for a better endorsement.

In July 2008, less than a year into a strategy targeting Georgia and five other states for trade and investment, Coca-Cola Co. appointed Muhtar Kent to succeed Neville Isdell as the Atlanta-based beverage giant's CEO.  Mr. Kent also followed Mr. Isdell as chairman of the board in April 2009.

Leading a company with sales in more than 200 countries, Mr. Kent can't play favorites, but the Turkish diplomat's son has become a symbolic ambassador for his native country, and he's been active in promoting its trade ties with Georgia. 

Turkey carried this momentum throughout 2009. Kennesaw State University had a full year of Turkey-focused programs that ended in May. Atlanta's Istanbul Center continued to host forums and sponsor educational and tourism trips to the country.

GlobalAtlanta joined them in June to attend a world trade conference in Istanbul hosted by Tuskon, a confederation of business groups.

Meanwhile, an array of prominent and interesting Turks visited Atlanta, building on Foreign Trade Minister Kursad Tuzmen's late 2008 visit. The list is varied, including high-powered executives, underwater exploration enthusiasts, legislators and more.

Ahmet Bozer, who heads Coke's operations in 93 countries in Africa, Asia and Europe from Istanbul, received an alumni award in November from Georgia State University, where he graduated with a master's in information systems in 1993.

Oguz Aydemir, a visitor from Cesme, Turkey, founded an organization to fund underwater exploration off his country's coastlines. He told us in a filmed interview that he hoped to bring relics from ancient shipwrecks to local museums.

Two Turkish parliament members and the governor of Mardin, a city with a rich heritage of religious tolerance and trade ties with Syria, were honored guests at the Atlanta Turkish Festival, now in its seventh year. 

All this played out against the backdrop of Turkey's ongoing effort to gain entry into the European Union, a prospect that has met resistance from some existing EU members. Mr. Bozer of Coke said his country will benefit from its quest to join the union, even if Turkey fails to make it in.

While the debate continues, Istanbul has won a distinction that seems to support its inclusion: The EU has selected the city as a 2010 European Capital of Culture along with Pecs, Hungary, and Essen, Germany.

Selected articles from 2009:

Cultural Festival Draws Turkish Governor, Legislators (video)

Turkey Expects Upsurge in Tourism

Coke Exec: Turkey Benefits From EU Quest

A Turkish Visitor's Passion: Ancient Shipwrecks

This article is one in a five-part series on bright spots in a dim 2009:

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