Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Speaking at the opening of the TEPAV USA Center, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the idea for the establishment of TEPAV first occurred during their 2003 visit to the USA.

Pointing out that there is a lack of information when it comes to the opinion leaders of the USA and Turkey, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the number of Turkish publications regarding the USA politics and policies will increase, saying, “Our public will be able to monitor the USA closely.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that even though the political and military relations between Turkey and the USA have their ups and downs, the relations are persistent and strong.

Emphasizing that the economic aspect of Turkey-USA relations is not progressing, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Turkey’s total exports in 2000 are 30 billion dollars, 3 billion of it to the USA. In 2011, Turkey’s exports have surpassed 130 billion dollars; however, our exports to the USA are still only around 4 billion dollars.”

- Change brought about with Obama

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they are unable to take sufficient initiative in the promotion of Turkey as the Turkish business world.

Expressing that there has been a shift in view towards Turkey with the start of President Obama’s term, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they have started the Global Entrepreneurship Program with the American government.

Hisarcıklıoğlu went on, “Our Prime Minister will bring together entrepreneurs from the region and all over the world between December 3rd and 6th in Istanbul.

That the second Global Entrepreneurship Summit, the first of which was held in Washington hosted by President Obama, is proof that our country is an entrepreneurship center of the region.

We are planning the 5th day of the summit as TOBB.”

Stating that Turkey has become a country that is able to plan long term, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We need to strengthen Ankara-Washington ties in our discovery of the USA. We need to take this trip off of the footpath and get on the highway. For that, the production of information is a must. The USA is a complicated structure of economy, society and politics. It needs to be studied systematically.”

- USA Ambassador to Ankara Francis J. Ricciardone

USA Ambassador to Ankara Francis J. Ricciardone, recalling the speech President Obama gave in the Grand Assembly in his first overseas trip to Turkey, said, “Obama explained the USA’s goals regarding the relations between our countries like this: ‘Renewing the alliance between our nations and the friendship between our peoples’. Both TEPAV and TOBB are working tothis end.”

Stating that the first Global Entrepreneurship Summit had been conducted under the presidency of Obama in Washington, Ricciardone said, that this summit would be held under the presidency of Prime Minister Erdoğan.

USA Ambassador to Ankara Francis J. Ricciardone made the opening and end of his speech in Turkish.

- TEPAV Director Güven Sak

TEPAV Director Güven Sak stated that in order to make correct choices knowledge is necessary, saying that the TEPAV USA Center would concentrate on compiling political and economic data.

“We have to understand what is happening in Washington D.C.” Sak said, “We have to know how decisions are made there. We will fill in the blanks in the compilation of data.”

After the speeches, the opening of the TEPAV USA Center was conducted by TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and USA Ambassador to Ankara Francis J. Ricciardone.
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