Turkish Forum

Category: Business

  • Excellence Award goes to Turkey

    Excellence Award goes to Turkey

    ‘Vote of Excellence Award’ goes to Turkey

    Travel Age West magazine, which has been published for the past 40 years on the West side of America gave Turkey the Travel Age West Wave (Western Agents’ Vote of Excellence), which is an annual award given to those deemed by Travel Age West to be the best in tourism. Turkey has been given the ‘Best Vacation Value, Europe’ award. The award was given by the editor board of the magazine. The award ceremony is to take place on the 4th of June, in Los Angeles at the 4 seasons hotel. With the global financial crisis having a profound effect on the tourism sector, it is very important that Turkey has been given this award.

    The chief editor, Kenneth Shapiro, visited the New York Culture and Promotion Attaché and informed Hasan Zöngür that Turkey was chosen for the award. Shapiro stated that ‘Turkey’s cultural richness and the diversity and quality of service the service sector made it an exceptional European destination.’

  • Brazil and Turkey Forge Closer Ties

    Brazil and Turkey Forge Closer Ties

    br-trANKARA – Brazil and Turkey took advantage of a two-day bilateral summit to re-launch their long-standing but modest economic ties with an emphasis on new avenues of cooperation in sectors such as energy, aeronautics, automobiles and textiles.

    The visit by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva concluded Friday with both countries pledging to invigorate a relationship begun 151 years ago with the signing of an accord between Brazil’s emperor and the Ottoman sultan.

    In a symbolic gesture, Turkish President Abdullah Gül presented Lula with a copy of that document and stressed that his visit opens a new phase in bilateral relations.

    Energy will play an essential role in this new stage and an oil prospecting accord signed Friday by Brazil’s state-owned oil company, Petrobras, and the Turkish Petroleum Corp. is a key part of those plans.

    The importance of that agreement was highlighted by both presidents, who also expressed interest in cooperating on new energy technologies and the production of ethanol and biodiesel.

    Gül underscored Brazil’s success in producing sugar-based ethanol and stressed Turkey’s goal of developing that industry as well, while Lula proposed that Turkey and Brazil invest in biodiesel and ethanol production in African countries.

    The two presidents also agreed on the need to establish direct commercial flights between Sao Paulo and Istanbul.

    Meanwhile, business leaders and politicians who participated in bilateral meetings over the past two days expressed their disappointment over the continued low volume of trade between Turkey and Brazil.

    Even though bilateral commerce was valued at $1.8 billion in 2008, 400 percent more than in 1999, experts said that total is still low considering the potential for trade between Turkey and Brazil.

    In that sense, Lula said that the current global economic crisis is creating opportunities to find new partners and that his visit to Turkey was part of such a strategy.

    Brazilian authorities, whose country is home to the world’s third-leading aircraft maker, Embraer, also expressed interest in jointly manufacturing planes with Turkey. EFE

    Source:  www.laht.com, May 24,2009

  • Conference on U.S.-Turkish Relations

    Conference on U.S.-Turkish Relations

    The 28th Annual Conference on U.S.-Turkish Relations, jointly organized by the American-Turkish Council and the Turkish U.S. Business Council of DEIK, will bring together leaders from Turkey and the U.S. at the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center at the National Harbor, Washington, DC May 31- June 3, 2009.The theme of this year’s Conference is “U.S.-Turkey: Overcoming Challenges in an Era of Change.”
    The conference is hosted by the Chairman of the Board of the American-Turkish Council, Lt. General Brent Scowcroft (USAF, Ret.), and Chairman of the Turkish U.S. Business Council, Haluk Dinçer.
    Key speakers from Turkey include State Minister and Chief EU Negotiator, Egemen Bagis; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Ahmet Davutoglu; Minister of National Defense, Vecdi Gönül; Minister of Transportation, Binali Yildirim; The Chief of the Turkish General Staff, General Ilker Basbug; the Undersecretary for Defense Industries, Murad Bayar; Acting President of TUBITAK, Dr. Nüket Yetis; General Manager of BOTAS, Hüseyin Saltuk Düzyol; Former Governor of the Central Bank, Süreyya Serdengeçti; Chairman, Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, Murat Yalçintas; and Chairman of the Board, Dogus Holding, Ferit Sahenk.

    Acceptences from the U.S. are Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General James Cartwright; Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator John Kerry; Director, Division of International Finance of the Federal Reserve Board, Dr. Nathan Sheets; Chairman of the Board and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company, Muthar Kent; President of Bankers Association for Finance and Trade, Donna Alexander; Associate Director of the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), Dr. Kim Kroll; Senior Science Policy Advisor for the State Department, Dr. Alexander Dehgan; Vice President, Sales and Marketing Group & General Manager, Intel World Ahead Program, John Davies.

    Invitations have also been extended to Vice President Joseph Biden; Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Taner Yildiz; Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu; and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen.
    The Annual Conference on U.S.-Turkish Relations is a forum for government and military officials, leaders of commerce and academia to discuss the issues and opportunities that bind the United States and Turkey. Meeting just weeks after President Obama’s highly successful visit to Turkey, Conference participants will discuss the expansion of joint-business opportunities for corporations in the United States, Turkey and the region; regional security issues; bi-lateral trade; energy security and development; the global recession and national recovery; and developments in Science, Technology and Research. Sectors and interests represented at the Conference include Agribusiness, Information Communication Technology, Defense, Pharmaceuticals, Banking & Finance, Trade, Construction, Energy and the European Union.

    Useful Links:

    Agenda-at-a-Glance (PDF File) Updated Conference Program (PDF File) Conference General Facts (PDF File) Hotel Reservations Transportation Information Online Conference Registration (credit cards only) Conference Registration Form (PDF, all forms of payment)
    TACCI Turkish American Chamber of Commerce & Industry www.turkishuschamber.org 28 West 44th Street Suite 1630, New York, NY 10036
    Tel: +1 646 429 1530
    Fax: +1 646 304 1666  info@turkishuschamber.org
  • Italy and Turkey: A strategic alliance

    Italy and Turkey: A strategic alliance

    An article by Hon. Ignazio La Russa, Italian Minister of Defence

    itaturkThe friendship and the solid alliance between Italy and Turkey have deep roots. The Mediterranean is definitely one of the elements which bring our two countries nearer. It makes our peoples, cultures and politics so similar to each other. For decades, as members of the Atlantic Alliance, Turkey and Italy always shared the burdens and the risks linked to the need to keep a stable and fair international order.

    In the Balkans, in Lebanon, in the Middle East, in Afghanistan, the Armed Forces of our two countries work side by side, relieving each other in the hardest tasks, to defend a precious and indivisible good: international security.

    This common action marks not only the identity of our interests, but first and foremost the values that we share. Because our countries believe in peace, abroad and at home.

    Our countries are equally and hardly struggling to consolidate an international order based on the principle of a fair and efficient multilateralism.

    It must be fair, because all communities and all identities must be equally represented and capable to make their voices heard.

    It must be efficient and able to give an answer to collective needs, avoiding that single vetoes could block the whole international community.

    Together we fight to defeat terrorism, which threatens our nations and the stability of our democratic systems.

    Italy and Turkey share a common vision and a common action strategy. The deep friendship between our countries which has been reaffirmed in the first Intergovernmental Summit held in ?zmir in November 2008, is not the final result of our relations but the point of departure for further joint actions in diplomacy, economy, culture and also to military operations aimed at the maintaining of peace.

    At the beginning of 2009, Turkey took over Italy?s non-permanent membership under the Security Council of the UN. After two years of permanence in the Council, Italy can now fully rely on the action the Turkish government will take to affirm once again the same values and principles which were the basis of Italian action.

    Italy supports Turkey’s aspirations in its path towards the European Union. The EU membership will be the final step of a difficult process which is anyway coherent with the ambitions and capabilities of Turkey.

    Turkey may give a new decisive impetus to the action of the EU, particularly in areas where Turkey has strong and deep cultural and historical ties, such as Eastern Mediterranean, Caucasus and Central Asia.

    I deem it is important to stress, last but not least, the extraordinary importance of Turkey for energy security not only for Italy, but for Europe as a whole. Because of its strategic position and above all for its stabilizing functions, Turkey is the strategic partner for all energy resources coming from the Caspian Region and “later on” the Persian Gulf.

    Within this close cooperation framework between Italy and Turkey, we must underline the important role played by the cooperation in weapon systems production.

    In both our countries defense industry plays a crucial role due to its valuable high technology features. It also works as an “innovation engine” for the entire production system, thanks to spin-offs linked to the high investments in R&D, typical of the defense industry.

    In Italy defense industry employs 51.000 workers, a high percentage of which is composed by highly qualified people, particularly in engineering and IT (information technology). As far as turnover of the defense industry is concerned, it accounts for the 1% of the total Italian GNP. Furthermore, our defense industry is one of the most dynamic and outward looking sectors in the whole Italian production system.

    In last years, due to significant international buyouts of important foreign firms, Italian defense industry saw a considerable increase in its turnover, production range and R&D investments.

    The buyouts of British Westland, American DRS Technologies and of US Manitowoc Marine Group have been great operations of industrial politics aiming to further strengthen Italian defense industry which has now strong transnational characteristics.

    Today, and even more so in the future, defense industry is going to be one of the strongest elements in our country system. It is a huge legacy of top level knowledge and skills, which Italy wants to share with friends and allies.
    Collaboration in defense industry between Turkey and Italy has proved itself through the decades as one of the most vital components of the strategic partnership between our countries.

    In recent years, the level of our collaboration reached new peaks, in particular in helicopters and shipyards sectors. We have now established a real partnership, with an exchange of technologies and know-how enriching both countries.

    Looking into the future and always keeping in mind our historical, cultural and political ties, I am sure that all conditions we may need in order to further enhance the cooperation between our countries in this crucial technological and industrial sector are already here.

    Company or Organisation Portrait:

    Ayse AKALIN
    Publisher and Editor in Chief
    DEFENCE TURKEY MAGAZINE

    Defence Turkey Magazine
    Mahatma Gandhi Cad. 33/7
    GOP ANKARA TURKEY
    Phone: 0090 312 4471320
    www.defence-turkey.com
    info@defence-turkey.com

    Source:  www.defpro.com, May 21 2009

  • UK falls out of premier league of economies

    UK falls out of premier league of economies

    By Sean O’Grady, Economics Editor

    In a humiliating move, Britain has been relegated from the premier league of international economies by one of the world’s leading credit agencies.

    Standard & Poor’s’ concerns about government borrowing and the potential cost of rescuing the UK’s rickety banking system – as much as £145bn – are so serious that the agency has taken the unprecedented step of downgrading the creditworthiness of the British Government. The UK has lost its cherished AAA rating with a “stable outlook”, the highest possible, to a triple-A rating with a “negative outlook”. Worse could follow. The agency said that “UK public finances are deteriorating rapidly” and warned about a further downgrade: “The rating could be lowered if we conclude that, following the election, the next government’s fiscal consolidation plans are unlikely to put the UK debt burden on a secure downward trajectory over the medium term.”

    While only one word of the formal S&P rating has been altered, the implications of the change could hardly be more momentous. Sterling, the gilts market and the FTSE 100 index all fell sharply on the news, which came shortly after the Office for National Statistics announced the latest figures for government borrowing – £85bn in April alone, four times the level this time last year and described by one City analyst as “awful”.

    The lower S&P rating means the national debt will be more expensive to service and generally add to the growing pressure on public spending. And the economy may not return quickly to the sort of growth that would restore tax revenues and prevent unemployment climbing to about 3 million by this time next year.

    The Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, Charlie Bean, reminded the nation in a speech last night that “we are still some way from having banks that feel sufficiently secure that they can lend normally, and investors that have enough confidence in the banks to provide them with sufficient funds”. He acknowledged signs of recovery but, “unfortunately these encouraging signs – I hesitate to identify them as ‘green shoots’ – do not tell us much about the strength and durability of the subsequent recovery”.

    With government borrowing of about £350bn scheduled over the next two years and a total national debt approaching £1.5 trillion – £1,500,000,000,000 – S&P voiced concerns that no government would be able to tackle the issue: “Even assuming additional fiscal tightening, the net general government debt burden could approach 100 per cent of GDP and remain near that level in the medium term… These projections reflect our more cautious view of how quickly the erosion in the Government’s revenue base may be repaired, the extent to which the growth in government spending can be curtailed, and consequently the pace at which historically high fiscal deficits are likely to narrow.”

    The immediate concern is how the downgrade will affect the cost of servicing Britain’s burgeoning public debt. Robert Stheeman, chief executive of the Debt Management Office, the government agency responsible for financing the deficit, admitted in an interview for Channel 4 News that the cost of paying the interest on government debts was rising: “I don’t see it turning into spiral, but it is getting significant, a significant part of government spending.”

    The shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, said “Labour is putting our economic stability at risk by refusing to face up to the debt crisis it has created”. His Liberal Democrat counterpart, Vincent Cable, called on ministers to “come clean about how it intends to pay back its debt”.

    The Treasury minister Stephen Timms replied that the Treasury had “set out plans in the Budget to halve the deficit over the next four years and to bring the public finances back into balance in the medium term”.

    The downgrade represents a historic moment, as it leaves the UK on an inferior credit rating to France, the US, German, Sweden, the Netherlands and even Guernsey. Spain and Ireland both lost their triple-A ratings in recent weeks. Japan lost its AAA rating in 2001. Ministers will hope that the UK does not follow them further down to join Greece and Portugal in the international finance equivalent of the Championship, or even League One.

    Source:  www.independent.co.uk, 22 May 2009

  • TOP BRITISH DIPLOMAT OFFERS UK’S SUPPORT TO TURKEY ON A RANGE OF ISSUES

    TOP BRITISH DIPLOMAT OFFERS UK’S SUPPORT TO TURKEY ON A RANGE OF ISSUES
    Wednesday, 13 May 2009
    “I think it should be absolutely applauded that Turkey has undertaken these bold steps,” said the top British diplomat in Turkey, referring to the diplomatic process of normalization between Turkey and Armenia.”I think it should be absolutely applauded that Turkey has undertaken these bold steps,” said the top British diplomat in Turkey, referring to the diplomatic process of normalization between Turkey and Armenia.

    In an interview with Today?s Zaman, British Ambassador Nick Baird described a visit made by Turkish President Abdullah GЭl to Armenia last September as “very courageous.’ The trip set off a series of diplomatic initiatives to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia, beginning with the possibility of opening their border, which was closed in 1993. Baird acknowledged that the issues in the Caucasus are complex but offered his government?s help to facilitate a thaw between neighboring countries. ?We are hugely keen to help solve the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, and we are very supportive of the Minsk process,’ he said. The Minsk Group was created in 1992 under the umbrella of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) with the intention of finding a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. The Minsk Group is co-chaired by Russia, the United States and France. Recalling that the United Kingdom had offered to open British archives to help settle a dispute over tragic events that happened in 1915, Ambassador Baird said Turkey?s suggestion of establishing a joint history commission to investigate genocide allegations is ?a good one and we absolutely support it.’ He revealed, however, that the UK was never asked to participate in such a commission or provide a historian. ?If we are asked to do so, we would be happy to consider it,” he said.

    Asked if he is concerned about Russia being a disruptive influence on regional peace, Baird said, “I very much hope that Russia will play a constructive role in the Caucasus.’ ?They [Russians] have a great interest in political stability in the region,’ he emphasized, indicating that some positive signs have already emerged on the Russian side in solving the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. Baird believes the current economic crisis has resulted in one positive development, albeit unintentionally. ?It reminded us how we are so interconnected with each other,’ he said. ?The energy-rich countries like Russia all want stability in client states so that they can pay their bills without a delay,’ the British ambassador noted. On the Nabucco project, a pipeline that will carry Caspian oil to Europe through Turkey, Baird said, ?We are making progress and having successful negotiations despite some political difficulties with Moscow.”

    Close cooperation on terrorism

    The UK?s top representative in Ankara described the level of cooperation with Turkey on terrorism as “very strong.’ After a visit from Home Secretary Jacqui Smith on Jan. 5-7, cross-agency involvement in combating terrorism has picked up speed, according to Baird. The UK considers the outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK) – an armed Kurdish group waging a separatist battle in the Southeast – a terrorist organization. ?This classification gives us certain powers in terms of the seizure of its financial assets and the cutting of its activities,’ Baird explained. He further remarked, ?There is a noticeable increase in the number of terrorist arrests in the UK, and the Turkish government recognizes the increased commitment by British authorities.” On the European front, Baird hinted that his government was trying to cooperate in developing an action plan against the PKK?s terrorist activities throughout Europe.

    Commenting on the Kurdish problem, the ambassador urged a broader and more comprehensive action plan, saying, “Complex problems need complex responses.’ He said Turkey needs to address security measures, economic development, assistance programs, protecting cultural rights and having good relations with the Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq as a single package. Acknowledging the progress the Turkish government has made so far, Baird said, ?We see genuine improvements in Turkey.’ Discussing Iraq, the ambassador praised Turkey?s foreign policy and its focus on fostering political stability in the war-torn country. He acknowledged the importance of Turkey?s encouragement for the Sunni minority to remain engaged in the political system. ?The surprise visit of Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr to Turkey earlier this month did not go unnoticed,’ he added. The visit showed Turkey?s leverage on the Shiite population in Iraq as well. Relations with Iraq also carry huge economic importance for Turkey as the trade volume between the two countries has grown to $5 billon annually. ?Turkey is indisputably the most important neighbor of Iraq,’ Baird stressed, adding that the UK supports the transit of significant amounts of Iraqi gas through Turkey. Turkey is very much involved in the economic development of Iraq, especially in the northern part where most Kurds live. ?We are trying to enhance economic cooperation, especially in the Basra area in the south that was controlled by British forces,’ Ambassador Baird said. Turkey already maintains a consulate in Basra to keep an eye on economic opportunities. The British ambassador explained how crucial it is for NATO to have Turkey?s involvement in Afghanistan. ?The terrain in Afghanistan is very similar to one you have in Turkey and your gendarmerie is very experienced in handling security in tough geography,’ he said, ?so the training of Afghanis by the Turkish military is very important for stability in Afghanistan.’ Turkey is also providing aid and development assistance to Kabul and has contributed substantially in the reconstruction of the country by building schools and hospitals in and around Kabul. ?I?m trying to get more involvement from the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency [TİKA],’ Baird said. TİKA is a Turkish government agency charged with delivering aid and development assistance throughout the world. With news coming out of Pakistan of violent clashes between the military and the Taliban, Ambassador Baird seemed very concerned about the stability of the country, describing the situation as ?very troublesome.’ ?What we ought to do is to provide economic help, support the army and restore political stability,” he said. Turkey?s role in assisting Pakistani government

    Stressing that Turkey plays an important role in assisting the Pakistani government, he said the Pakistani army must control the situation on the ground. “We have a substantial number of British citizens with Pakistani origin, and they are worried about their families and relatives back in Pakistan,’ he underlined. The ambassador reiterated his country?s support for Turkey?s full membership in the European Union, but cautioned that the Cyprus issue posed a major challenge along the way. He conceded that resolution of the Cyprus issue is a very painstaking process but sounded hopeful as the process is again under way after a period of no talks. He urged leaving the past where it is supposed to be and moving on. Baird said that if the Cyprus issue were resolved, there would be huge infusion of EU aid to Turkish Cypriots, amounting 250 million euros. ?Considering the northern Turkish part is very small, the aid would be one of the largest per capita assistances within the EU,’ he claimed. Ambassador Baird also provided an update on the previously announced British University that is to be launched in Turkey shortly. Though he conceded that the process is slow and has been hindered at times, Baird said, ?We find the Turkish side to be flexible, and the work is in progress.” The bulk of the problem seems to have been caused by differences between the university systems in the two countries.