2013 year end report and 2014 strategy · 2019. 12. 18. · 2014 strategy f ollowing a...

2013 Year End Report and 2014 Strategy

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A Council of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

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Table of Contents

U.S.-Turkey Business Council Groundbreaking Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2014 Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Leads U.S.-Turkey Investment Week to New York, Atlanta and Washington, D.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

U.S. Chamber Hosts Vice President Biden and Turkey’s Prime Minister Erdoğan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

U.S.-Turkey Business Council hosts Working Luncheon with President Abdullah Gül . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Inaugural Business Mission to Istanbul and Ankara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

DPM Ali Babacan Addresses Council Members in Washington, D.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

DPM Babacan Leads U.S.-Turkey Investment Week Tour to West Coast and Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Chair Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Board Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Member Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

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U.S.-Turkey Business Council Groundbreaking Year

The U.S-Turkey Business Council (USTBC) launched at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

in May 2013 with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Vice President Joseph Biden calling for deepened commercial ties between the United States and Turkey. Since its inauguration, the USTBC has established itself as the premier vehicle for U.S. businesses to engage Turkish government officials at the highest levels. The Council has met with Prime Minister Erdoğan, President Abdullah Gül, Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan and former Minister of Economy Zafer Çağlayan in the United States. Myron Brilliant, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President and Head, International Affairs, led an inaugural business mission to Turkey in the fall of 2013. U.S. Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Turkey and Middle East Affairs Khush Choksy says that he has witnessed tremendous growth in Turkey as a regional trading hub, and a priority country for U.S. businesses. Under the Chairmanship of The Coca-Cola Company’s Executive Vice President and President, Coca-Cola International Ahmet Bozor, the Council is rapidly expanding. Given the robust commercial opportunities in Turkey, the USTBC looks to continued policy dialogue with senior Turkish government officials to strengthen bilateral trade and investment, advocating on behalf of the U.S. business community in Turkey. n

U.S. Chamber launches the U.S.-Turkey Business Council in May 2013. From left to right: Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Namık Tan, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President and Head, International Affairs Myron Brilliant, former Minister of the Economy of Turkey Zafer Çağlayan, Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Vice President of the United States Joseph Biden, The Coca-Cola Company Chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President and COO David Chavern.

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2014 Strategy

Following a groundbreaking first year, the Chamber’s U.S.-Turkey Business Council has set a robust program of work for 2014, including marquee programs:

• U.S.-Turkey Free Trade Agreement Study launch events in Washington, D.C. and Turkey

• U.S.-Turkey Framework for Strategic Economic Cooperation Meetings in Washington, D.C. Business sessions to be held with high-level U.S. and Turkish government officials.

• Trade Missions to Turkey

• U.S.-Turkey Investment Week tours in the United States with Deputy Prime Minister in Charge of Economic Affairs

• Investment conference in Istanbul

• U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue visit to Turkey

• Hosting Turkish Government Officials in close coordination with the Embassy of Turkey in Washington, D.C.

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U.S. Chamber of Commerce Leads U.S.-Turkey Investment Week to New York, Atlanta and Washington, D.C.The U.S. Chamber of Commerce organized its first ever U.S.-Turkey Investment Week featuring the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Ali Babacan and a robust Turkish investment delegation to the United States led by the President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu. Khush Choksy, vice president of Turkey and Middle East Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, participated in the delegation on behalf of Chamber member companies. DPM Babacan and the delegation visited with U.S. companies in three cities along the East Coast to spotlight a renewed focus on the economic relationship between the two countries.

“Turkey is a burgeoning global player with significant economic potential,” said Choksy. “It is vital that American and Turkish companies collaborate to establish partnerships that will allow us to expand bilateral trade and promote economic growth. Through the efforts of the Chamber, we will help lead an effort to promote Turkey’s dynamic economy as an attractive destination for trade and investment dollars. We are delighted to partner with both the Turkish government and our Turkish counterpart, TOBB, in this goal.”

During their trip, the delegation made stops in New York City, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C., meeting both with CEOs of major U.S. corporations that are heavily invested in Turkey and with companies that are looking to expand their investment in the Turkish market. These companies included, AIG, Citi, The Coca-Cola Company, Merck and Eli Lilly. The delegation also closed the NASDAQ stock exchange in New York, and met with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and Emory University Goizueta Business School.“We are very enthusiastic about the prospect of increasing U.S.-Turkey economic relations, and this ‘Turkey Investment Week’ is a wonderful example of the emphasis we are putting on this goal. We are grateful to both TOBB and the U.S. Chamber for spearheading this important mission,” said Babacan.

Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Ali Babacan, center, Senior Advisor to the President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Greg Lebedev, left and TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu close the NASDAQ Stock Exchange during U.S.-Turkey Business Council Investment Week in April 2013.

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U.S. Chamber Hosts Vice President Biden and Turkey’s Prime Minister Erdogan

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosted Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in May 2013 for a meeting of American and Turkish government and business

leaders to discuss ways to deepen the commercial relationship between the United States and Turkey. During the event, the Chamber announced the launch of the U.S.-Turkey Business Council.

Prime Minister Erdoğan met privately with executives from U.S.-Turkey Business Council companies to discuss ongoing and future trade and investment opportunities. Prime Minister Erdoğan and Vice President Biden then addressed a crowd of more than 300 business leaders.

Prime Minister Erdoğan said, “We are happy to see the growing interest of U.S. companies towards Turkey. In the last decade, we had international investments in Turkey of $123 billion. United States has 8.5 percent of this investment; is ranking the third. We would like to see America to be the first with a big difference.”

Vice President Biden pointed out that Turkey’s economy, which ranked 26th in 2002, has become the 17th largest economy in the world in 2013, while also tripling during that timeframe, and stated, “The prime minister has set as a goal that by 2023 Turkey will be one of the 10 largest economies in the world. And I have little doubt they’ll be able to accomplish that.”

“Turkey’s impressive economic growth solidifies its position as not only a gateway to markets in both Europe and the Middle East, but also as a burgeoning economy and investment partner for American businesses,” said Myron Brilliant, the Chamber’s executive vice president and head of International Affairs.”

The U.S.-Turkey Business Council (USTBC) serves as the leading trade and investment advocacy organization representing top American companies conducting business with Turkey. The Council consists of senior executives of U.S. companies from business sectors that are major investors in Turkey.

The Coca-Cola Company has assumed the role of the Chair Company of the USTBC, represented by The Coca-Cola Company Executive Vice President and President, Coca-Cola International Ahmet Bozer.

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U.S.-Turkey Business Council hosts Working Luncheon with President Abdullah Gül

On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the U.S.-Turkey Business Council met with President of Turkey Abdullah Gül on September 23 to discuss the current and future state of

U.S.-Turkey political, economic and commercial relations. The Coca-Cola Company Chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent, U.S.-Turkey Business Council Chairman and President, Coca-Cola International Ahmet Bozer opened the meeting, speaking to Coca-Cola’s successful investments in the Turkish market.

Tishman Speyer Co-CEO and President Rob Speyer expressed his company’s commitment to invest in real estate in Istanbul, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Senior Advisor to the President Greg Lebedev gave remarks about U.S. companies’ expanding activity in Turkey, noting the 30% increase in bilateral trade over two years to $20B for 2012.

President Gül said he sees tremendous opportunity in creating the largest free trade zone in the world, and that Turkey and the United States hope to sign a Free Trade Agreement in parallel with the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). He closed by saying, “We are optimistic about the future of our bilateral ties. And it is with you that we wish to build and share that bright future.” n

U.S.-Turkey Business Council Chairman and Executive Vice President, The Coca-Cola Company and President, Coca-Cola International Ahmet Bozer welcomes guests at the Council’s luncheon with President Abdullah Gül.

President of Turkey Abdullah Gül takes questions from U.S.-Turkey Business Council member companies as Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company Muhtar Kent moderates the discussion.

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Inaugural Business Mission to Istanbul and Ankara

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President and Head, International Affairs Myron Brilliant, led the U.S.-Turkey Business Council’s inaugural business mission to Turkey on October 1-3.

The Chamber’s Vice President for Turkey and Middle East Affairs Khush Choksy also participated with the delegation. Approximately 25 delegates representing 15 member companies participated in a robust program of meetings with U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone, the Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, the Minister of Customs and Trade, the Minister of Environment and Urbanization, and senior representatives from the following ministries: Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communication; Economy; Finance; Foreign Affairs; Treasury; Food, Agriculture and Livestock; Science, Industry and Technology.

Additionally, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu hosted the delegation for a dinner meeting with the Turkish business community. Delegates also received an overview of the Turkish Economy and insider’s analysis from experts at the Economy Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV) and the German Marshall Fund.

Turkish government officials engaged the delegation on a range of bilateral issues, including the effects of a future Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement on Turkey. The Council assured each official that the U.S. business community will remain a vested partner in the Turkish economy and will advocate for a U.S.-Turkey Free Trade Agreement through a policy study to be released in 2014. Member companies discussed with officials on-going areas of partnership and the Council has been instrumental in following-up with each company’s request. n

Executive Vice President and Head, International Affairs of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Myron Brilliant and President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Rifat Hisarcıklıoglu respond to questions from the Turkish press during the inaugural U.S.-Turkey Business Council Business Mission to Turkey.

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DPM Ali Babacan Addresses Council Members in Washington, D.C.

The Chamber’s U.S.-Turkey Business Council hosted Deputy Prime Minster of Turkey Ali Babacan on October

10 during his visit to Washington, D.C. for the World Bank/International Monetary Fund fall meetings. DPM Babacan spoke of Turkey’s economic progress over the last decade and plans for the country to be among the world’s top ten economies by 2023.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President and Head, International Affairs Myron Brilliant and Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Deputy President Ender Yorgancilar both gave remarks on behalf of the U.S. and Turkish business communities. Brilliant

expressed an unprecedented interest by U.S. companies to enter Turkey and expand investments in the country, while Yorgancilar spoke of the fruitful partnership between the U.S. Chamber and TOBB aimed at enhancing bilateral business ties.

Overall, DPM Babacan expressed his confidence that U.S.-Turkey trade and investments will continue to flourish across all sectors due to Turkey’s consistent economic growth. He described Turkey’s political and macroeconomic stability as strong, with well-supervised and well-governed banking and financial sectors. He emphasized that the Turkish economy has proven resilient; the risk premium in the country is low, and that the business potential is strong and growing. n

Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Ali Babacan addresses the U.S.-Turkey Business Council in Washington, D.C.

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DPM Babacan Leads U.S.-Turkey Investment Week Tour to West Coast and Chicago

The U.S.-Turkey Business Council (USTBC) organized the second U.S.-Turkey Investment Week tour with Deputy Prime Minister

of Turkey Ali Babacan the week of October 21 in Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, Seattle, and Chicago. A delegation of approximately 50 Turkish business leaders, Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, and U.S. Chamber Vice President, Turkey and Middle East Affairs Khush Choksy participated alongside DPM Babacan in the week’s events.

The delegation accomplished more than 15 successful meetings to strengthen U.S.-Turkey investments in sectors including aviation, defense, education, finance, industrial goods, information technology and communications, law, real estate and urban development, solar energy, supply chain logistics, tourism, and transportation. USTBC

members Alpha Technologies, General Electric, Microsoft, Tishman Speyer, and UPS each took advantage of the opportunity to raise the profile of their companies in Turkey by hosting the delegation during the U.S.-Turkey Investment Week. In addition to engaging with USTBC members, DPM Babacan, Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Khush Choksy and accompanying delegation opened the CME and met with the Global and World Affairs Councils’ regional business and international policy leaders in Los Angeles, Seattle and Chicago. n

Co-CEO and President of Tishman Speyer Rob Speyer greets Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Ali Babacan during U.S.-Turkey Investment Week at a dinner hosted by Tishman Speyer in Chicago, IL.


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Board Members

Chair Company


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Members

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U.S.-Turkey Business Council Contacts

Khush ChoksyVice President, Turkey and Middle East Affairs

Tel: 202-463-5596Email: [email protected]

Duygu ErdemgilAssociate Director, U.S.-Turkey Business Council


Jennifer Miel Manager, U.S.-Turkey Business Council


1615 H Street, NW | Washington, DC 20062-2000www.uschamber.com

2013 year end report and 2014 strategy · 2019. 12. 18. · 2014 strategy f ollowing a...

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