Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

At the Summit, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu gave an address on the economic and commercial relations between Turkey and the U. S. as well as the activities undertaken by TOBB in cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank, both in Turkey and the region, on the development of private sector and entrepreneurship particularly in Palestine, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Answering questions, Hisarcıklıoğlu, when asked to comment on PNB Turkey’s extraordinary progress, stated that “Our entrepreneurs, the most precious resource of the Turkish economy, they are our greatest asset.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu noted that developing entrepreneurship is critical, not only for Turkey but the whole region, “Only an enterprising middle class can provide democracy and stability to the region.”

Stating that their aim is to develop relations between entrepreneurs in Turkey and the USA, investors and universities, as well as working towards empowering women entrepreneurs; Hisarcıklıoğlu went on to emphasize the importance of a varied representation in PNB Turkey
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.

- A new era in Turkish-American relations

Hisarcıklıoğlu, speaking about the projects implemented by PNB-Turkey, “Our new goal presents us with a new era in Turkish-American relations. In the past, military and bureaucratic relations were dominant. We were focused on military exchange programs. Whereas now, it is time to focus on economic relations and networks of successful businessmen. We must especially focus on young entrepreneurs and women entrepreneurs.

Saying that the best way to empower the Turkish people is to empower the private sector, Hisarcıklıoğlu explained their plans to strengthen the private sector. As fields to improve the private sector would differ from in each country, Turkey has focused on innovation and entrepreneurship.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that he personally suggests smaller project based approaches instead of big plans, “Small but creative ideas make for easier progress towards development.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu went on to say that not only businessmen but syndicates, universities, new entrepreneurs and civil society organizations should take part in these matters.

- 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 economic 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.
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