Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Among the subjects of economy and cooperation discussed during the invitation were TOBB’s works in the Ankara and Istanbul Forums and the establishment of the Jenin Industrial Zone. Another point of conversation was the “Turkey Fast Growth 25” project, conducted together by TOBB and Harvard University as well as TOBB and Cisco Turkey’s project to encourage women entrepreneurship; TOBB and Intel Turkey’s project to encourage entrepreneurship in universities; the Chamber Academy project started by TOBB-Islam Development Bank and Islam Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

During his visit to Washington D.C., M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), attended the Partners for a New Beginning (PNB) summit, an enterprise to strengthen the bonds of partnership between Muslim-majority nations and the USA in the fields of financial opportunities, science & technology, education and international relations.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the strengthening of entrepreneurships is critical for not only Turkey, but the region as a whole, “Only an enterprising middle class can ensure democracy and stability in the region.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu expressed his wishes to develop the connections between Turkish and American entrepreneurs, investors and universities, to focus on strengthening women entrepreneurs. He emphasized the importance of having a wide representation in PNB-Turkey, from small and large businesses; native and foreign companies; Istanbul based firms as well as Anatolian ones.

- Partners for a New Beginning (PNB)

PNB was established in order to attain the “new beginning” goal set forth in President Barack Obama’s Cairo speech by the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, the President and CEO of the Aspen Institute Walter Isaacson and Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent in April 27, 2010.

Turkey is one of the target countries of the enterprise and the Turkish end of the project is handled by the Local Chapter Committee, lead by the TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, who has been vocal in his support for propagating commercial relations to the level of bureaucratic and military relations between Ankara and Washington.

Apart from Hisarcıklıoğlu, the “Partners for a New Beginning – Turkey” platform’s Executive Council is also attended by businessmen, sector representatives and academicians such as; Cisco Turkey Institutional Social Responsibility Director Deniz Sungurlu, Intel Turkey Institutional Social Responsibility Director Melih Gezer, Sabancı Holding Chairman Güler Sabancı, TÜSİAD Chairman Ümit Boyner, MÜSİAD Chairman Ömer Cihad Vardan, Coca-Cola Turkey President Galya Frayman Molinas, Kayseri Chamber of Industry President Mustafa Boydak, TUSKON Board Member Mehmet Ata Ceylan.

During the two day summit which started yesterday in Washington, ideas and experiences pertaining to the developments made in the target countries in regards to PNB were shared.  The summit emphasizes importance of improving relations between target countries and the USA as well as the relations among target countries.

Sources state that Turkey’s progress in conjunction with PNB has been by and far the most exemplary, on the USA end, efforts need to focus on promoting and supporting said progress.

The work being done as part of the project enable Turkish and American entrepreneurs to create "networks" as well as helping students interact directly with each other. "We are also looking to find ways in which we can cooperate with our counterparts in the region. How to increase the interaction between these commercial actors was discussed at the summit."