By Mark Meirowitz, TACCI Board Member

On October 20, 2010, at the Turkish Consulate in Manhattan, some of the members of the Board of Directors of the Turkish American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TACCI) had the distinct honor and privilege of meeting with Turkey's Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Zafer Caglayan.

Minister Caglayan made some remarks about his activities. He then gave those assembled the opportunity to introduce themselves. TACCI's President Celal Secilmis then briefed the Minister on TACCI's work and he also suggested ways in which TACCI could be an important and valuable component of the Minister's US-Turkey trade strategy. It was suggested that TACCI would be in a good position to help implement the objectives and goals that the Minister has charted for the improvement and increase of Turkish-US trade and investment.

The Minister began his career as a businessman and industrialist in the 1980's. He became chairman of the Ankara Chamber of Industry in 1995 after serving as acting chairman. He served as Vice President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) for many years. Minister Caglayan began his political career in 2007 as an elected MP for Ankara 2nd District. He was appointed Minister of Trade and Industry, and then assumed the position of Minister of State in May 2009.

The Minister has travelled around the United States to meet with American businessmen (including in Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Houston) in order to promote increased bilateral US-Turkey trade and investment. In these meetings with American businessmen, the Minister is able to apply his years of business experience and talk "businessman to businessman" in a very effective way for the purpose of promoting his important messsage, that of deepening and diversifying the economic relations between the US and Turkey - and increasing trade levels with the US.

Prior to the Board briefing, earlier in the same week, Minister Caglayan had given a very important keynote address at the American Turkish Council Conference in Washington, D.C. In addition, the inaugural meeting of the US-Turkey Framework for Strategic Economic and Commercial Cooperation also took place in Washington, D.C., attended by Minister Caglayan and Economy Minister Ali Babacan, for Turkey, and for the United States, the meeting was attended by US

Trade Representative Ron Kirk and US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.

At our briefing, the Minister demonstrated extraordinary leadership qualities - he is a good listener and is extremely gracious to everyone (including people like myself who were meeting him in person for the first time.) After listening to the presentation of TACCI President Secilmis, and the comments of the Board members, the Minister responded with concrete ways in which TACCI could become an integral part of trade strategy as it affects the US. All of the Board members present were greatly honored by having had the opportunity to have a private briefing with so distinguished a leader from the government of Turkey.

Also present at the New York TACCI briefing with the Minister were Consul General Mehmet Samsar, Commercial Attache Yavuz Ozutku, as well as officials from the Turkish Ministry of Trade.

Mr. Celal Secilmis Attended the 1-Week Delegation Visit of ACCE and Also Took Part at the Opening of New York State's First Office in Istanbul

Turkish - American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TACCI) joined its peers in Turkiye and co-organized a very important series of events with the initial leadership of Turkish - American Businessmen Association (TABA/AmCham). More than 40 business leaders and politicians traveled from different parts of USA to attend this trip, including TACCI President Mr. Celal Secilmis, between September 19 - 26.

This event was organized by Turkish American Businessmen Association (TABA/AmCham), Turkish - American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TACCI), Honorary Consul of Republic of Turkey in Georgia Ms. Mona Diamond, Istanbul 2010 European Cultural Capital Agency, Izmir Development Agency (IZKA), Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTSO) and Kocaeli Chamber of Industry (KSO).

Mr. Celal Secilmis attended the opening of New York State's trade office, which is the first official representative office of a US state, established in Turkiye. The office will be the direct gateway for the business people who are interested in investing in New York state. The offices are located at the World Trade Center of Istanbul and Ms. Ally Gunduz will be directing the operation in Istanbul. A special reception at the Esma Sultan Mansion of Bosphorus was held where TACCI Board Members Mr. John Driscoll, Mr. Nazim Kalkanci, Ms. Gulay Oguzcan and Mr. Celal Secilmis were also present.

Zafer Caglayan says "TACCI is the First Address For the Turkish Companies Entering US"

On October 20, Wednesday at 11:30 am, Mr. Zafer Caglayan, Minister for Trade of Republic of Turkey, met several members of Turkish - American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TACCI) board of directors at the Turkish Center in New York. TACCI President Mr. Celal Secilmis updated Mr. Caglayan about the latest events and services of TACCI, and then the other board members introduced themselves and their businesses. Mr. Caglayan expressed that he was very proud to see an organization like TACCI emerge and grow like this and he claimed that he was one of the few people who initally urged the chamber to be established. Mr. Caglayan also added that TACCI is and has always been the first address for the Turkish companies that are looking to do business between Turkey and the US, and he is hoping to see TACCI member companies achieving more goals in the near future, regarding the increase of the bilateral trade between Turkey and the US. Caglayan and the board members discussed the Turkey - U.S. Economic and Commercial Strategic Cooperation Framework and exchanged ideas on how they can contribute to it, for which the first ministerial meeting took place in Washington on October 19, Tuesday. Zafer Caglayan listened to the requests and problems of the board members and took notes. Caglayan and his delegation will proceed to Toronto on Thursday and they will participate in the Turkish - Canadian Business Council Forum.

TACCI joined the representatives of New York's Turkish Community in a visit to Mr. Scott M. Stringer, Borough President of New York City's very heart, Manhattan. Mr. Stringer and his team partners welcomed Mr. Turan Ayaz (Senior Program Manager at Port Authority, NY & NJ), Mr. Ali Cinar (Vice President of Assembly of Turkish American Asssociations), Mr. Safak Dogan (Director of TACCI), Mr. Jon Kaplan (Vice President of Federation of Turkish American Associations) and Mr. Ridvan Sezer (Founder of TurkishNY.com and TACCI Board Member). Mr. Stringer expressed that he was very happy to have close relations with the Turkish Community in NY and he added that he is always ready to work together in the future. Mr. Cinar suggested Manhattan to become sister cities with the Beyoglu district of Istanbul, which is also the heart of Istanbul, the biggest city of Turkiye. Mr. Stringer ordered his colleagues for the legal framework to be prepared as soon as possible. TACCI Director Mr. Dogan also informed Mr. Stringer about the event and the services of the chamber, and passed the sincere greetings of the TACCI Board to Mr. Stringer.

Turkish - American Chamber of Commerce & Industry (TACCI) took part at the Brooklyn Trade Show organized by Cardinal Trade Group on September 14 at the Steiner Studios in Brooklyn's famous Navy Yard. TACCI was an Official Community Partner and the sole Turkish organization and one of the few chambers of commerce that was a part of the event. Prior to the event, TACCI informed all its members about the event and many TACCI member companies including Shirt by Shirt, HSBC, Turkish Airlines, LTB / CAK Textile, Marmara Manhattan Hotel, Chinook Science, Ziraat Bank, Vakifbank, ATA Freight Lines, Gulluoglu, Herzfeld & Rubin, Kulen Law, Dervish and Derya Staffing were promoted via printed materials distributed throughout the event. Also, many flyers of the "Turkish Days in New York" event were distributed to the attendees. Hundreds of participants visited TACCI's section during the visiting hours and they were given information about TACCI's history, structure and activities. Overall, it was a very efficient exposure for TACCI and its member companies. A sincere thanks from TACCI to all of our Sponsors, Exhibitors and Attendees for making this a fantastic day of Business in Brooklyn.

TACCI Young Executive Committee organized a networking event with Italy - America Chamber of Commerce on September 23, Thursday, at the posh Hudson Terrace with the attendance of more than 60 Turkish and Italian young professionals, who had the chance to meet their peers and enjoy the beautiful view of Hudson River. This event was a part of the networking events schedule of the TACCI Young Executive Committee which will continue throughout the year.

Turkish - American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TACCI) organized an members-only networking event at The Marmara Manhattan, Premium TACCI Member hotel, located at the Upper East Side with its amazing view and luxury rooms. The event was hosted at the newly-renovated lobby with the attendance of more than 30 guests, on the evening of October 14, Thursday. The participants had the chance to meet the other members and discuss about possible future collaborations, as well as enjoying the wines, light refreshments and hors d'oeuvres offered by TACCI and The Marmara Manhattan.

Turkish - American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TACCI) hosted a very exquisite "Iftar" dinner which brought together many TACCI member companies and individuals. The dinner was attended by more than 70 people. Midtown's Serra Mediterranean Bistro was the location to this delicious gathering, and Chef Claude Solliard and the friendly staff of Serra made it a wonderful experience for everyone.

Serra Mediterranean Bistro was opened only six weeks ago at its convenient location in Midtown and with its innovative perspective on adding a healthy twist to authentic Mediterranean specialties from regions such as Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Northern Africa, it's already a hit among many foodies.

TACCI Annual Iftar Dinner hosted specials guests like Ambassador Mr. and Mrs. Mithat Rende, Mr. and Mrs. Fazil Corman (Deputy Permanent Representative of Turkey to the UN), First Counselor Mr. Levent Gumrukcu, Turkish Commercial Attache in New York and TACCI Board Member Mr. Ahmet Canli, Director of Turkish Cultural Center in New York Mr. Zafer Akin, ATAA Vice President and TACCI Committee Member Mr. Ali Cinar, General Manager of Vakifbank New York Mr. Yildirim Eroglu, General Manager of Ziraat Bank New York Mr. Hakan Yuksel as well as TACCI President Mr. Celal Secilmis and members of the board of directors and committees: Mr. Tahir Erimli, Mr. Salim Gorur, Ms. Yasemin Koyunoglu, Mr. Mark Meirowitz, Ms. Gulay Oguzcan, Ms. Sevil Ozisik, Mr. Ridvan Sezer, Mr. Huseyin Unver and TACCI member company representatives. This exclusive member-only event also brought together brand new members like Sovereign Bank and Aztec Builders LLC which were welcomed by the others.

We would like to thank to the generous sponsors of the night: Serra Mediterranean Bistro,Calik Holding USA (TACCI Member) and Vakifbank New York Branch (TACCI Member).

Turkish American Chamber of Commerce & Industry (TACCI) participated at this year's "Gateway to International Trade" and made a presentation about Turkey, Turkish Economy and the current investment opportunities for the foreign investors. TACCI President Mr. Celal Secilmis made a presentation about Turkey, and then a 10-minute clip about Turkish economy was shown to the guests in Turkey session. At the end, Commercial Attache of Republic of Turkey in New York, Mr. Ahmet Canli made another presentation and answered the questions from the attendees. The guests were also given giftbags, full of items, complimentary from TACCI member companies like Turkish Airlines, The Marmara Manhattan Hotel, Gulluoglu Baklava Cafe and etc.

Among the participants, there was Brazil, Canada, Greater China and surrounding areas, Eastern Europe, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Russia, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, briefings were presented on topics including IFRS, U.S. Tax Structuring of Outbound Investments, Citibank International Trade and Banking Solutions, and Structuring Transactions to Minimize Duties and Penalties.

TACCI would like to thank the organization committee for a successful event.

NEWSSTORY FROM J.H. COHN WEBSITE:

J.H. Cohn LLP, one of the top 15 accounting and consulting firms in the United States, and Citibank’s Commercial Banking Group, a leading provider of commercial loans to small- and medium-sized businesses, in affiliation with Nexia International, the world’s tenth largest global provider of accounting, tax, and business advisory services, presented the Gateway to International Trade conference on May 12, 2010 at the New York Marriott Marquis. More than 450 people, including business owners and executives, attended the conference.

The international trade conference afforded U.S.-based businesses with plans to expand internationally, as well as foreign-based enterprises importing goods or services into the U.S., the opportunity to speak with international business experts from J.H. Cohn, its associates from Nexia member firms, and Citibank Commercial Bankers, as well as foreign trade consultants, about global expansion and the unique aspects of doing business in each country.

Attendees of the half-day conference had the opportunity to attend their choice of three breakout sessions focusing on trade opportunities and business practices in specific countries and regions, including Brazil, Canada, Greater China and other Asia-Pacific countries, Eastern Europe, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. Professionals from top U.S. trading partners and emerging markets around the globe gave briefings on trade and banking in their country as well as presentations on specialized international trade topics, such as IFRS; U.S. Tax Structures for Outbound Investments; Structuring International Trade Transactions to Minimize Duties and Penalties; and an International Banking Solutions Showcase by Citibank.

“This is an unprecedented time for global business, and as international business and accounting standards continue to shift, it is paramount that corporate executives stay abreast of how they will be impacted and the opportunities that exist in a global economy,” said Roy W. Hoffman, CPA, J.H. Cohn partner and the Firm’s Nexia International liaison. “Attendees expressed that this event was an exceptional opportunity to network and share information with others involved in international trade.”

Seth Pinsky, president of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), presented at the general session about New York City’s role in the nation’s international trade programs.

John Ahern, Global Head of Trade within Citi's Global Transaction Services business, presented on trends in global trade, the value of trade finance for internationally focused businesses, and Citi's leadership in these areas.

Gateway to International Trade was supported by the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with World Trade Week NYC, as well as by the chambers of commerce of many of the countries represented at the event. The conference serves as an unofficial kick-off to Manhattan’s World Trade Week, which began Monday, May 17, 2010 and for which Hoffman served as chairman for the fifth time.

The president of TACCI and TACCI members attended to a Panel Discussion between 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm on 6th of April, 2010 at Chadbourne & Parke LLP. The American Turkish Society Presented the Panel on The Energy Sector in Turkey. The conversation was about the latest developments and investment opportunities in the energy sector in Turkey with a particular emphasis on renewable energy. The panel was moderated by Governer George E. Pataki and the speakers were Onur Goker, Ali Iz, Sameer Shukla and Adam S. Umanoff who are experts in their businesses. The panel was sponsored by Chadbourne & Parke LLP.

The leading Turkish – American business organization of the USA, Turkish - American Chamber of Commerce & Industry (TACCI) held its Annual General Assembly and the bi-annual elections for a new Board of Directors, on March 16, 2010, at The Turkish Center in New York at 6 pm. The assembly elections were attended by the majority of the current TACCI members and by Vice Consul Mr. Basar Sen who also made the opening remarks. After the introduction of the agenda by Ms. Sevil Ozisik, and following the review of the previous term, the attending members voted for the new Board of Directors, Audit Committee and the Disciplinary Committee. According to its bylaws, 18 out of 20 members were elected based on the results of the voting process. The other two permanent members of the board are the Commercial Attache of Turkey in New York, and the US Representative of the Union of Chambers of Commerce and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB).

The newly-elected Board Members of Turkish - American Chamber of Commerce & Industry (TACCI) gathered at the first board meeting after the General Assembly, and internally elected the new President, Vice Presidents, Treasurer and the Secretary General of TACCI. We would like to announce that, Mr. Celal Secilmis will be serving as the new President of TACCI, after his precessor Ms. Sevil Ozisik, who will also serve as a Vice President in the new board. The full list of the TACCI Board of Directors can be found below. The new TACCI Board of Directors will serve for a 2-year term and TACCI will continue its mission to contributing to increase and foster bilateral trade and investment opportunities between U.S. and Turkey with the support of its members.

Sevil Ozisik and Kirstin Myers during their opening speech

TACCI and Globond joined their powers together and created an exquisite gathering on January 21st, at the New York Athletic Club. The event hosted many distinguished guests, Turkish and International business leaders and entrepreneurs from all over the world. The night was hosted by Philip Berry, and it featured the following speakers: H.E. Ertugrul Apakan (Turkey's Ambassador to the U.N.), H.E. Mehmet Samsar (Consul General of Turkey in New York), Sevil Ozisik (President of TACCI), Kirstin Myers (Founder of Globond), Elizabeth Rose Daly (Director of International Business) and Fatima Shama (Commissioner of Immigration) from Mayor Bloomberg's office and Mert Goker (spokesperson for the Platinum Sponsor ATA Freight Line).

Among the attendees, there were also internationally famous celebrities, such as Montel Williams (Emmy winning TV host and actor), Sinem Saniye (Turkish American singing sensation who also made a performance during the night), Carol Massar (famous Bloomberg TV anchor) and Cathy Maguire (Internationally famous Irish singer).

Governor David A. Paterson also sent his greetings with a special letter.