36th TAIK-ATC Annual Conference commenced in Washington D.C.
With the participation of public and private sectors, the 36th TAİK-ATC Annual Conference started on May 22, 2017.
Over 400 participants from public and private sectors joined the first day of the Annual Conference organized by DEİK/Turkey-US Business Council (TAİK) and America Turkish Council with the theme of "Together Towards Tomorrow". DEİK President Ömer Cihad Vardan, DEİK/TAİK Chairman Ekim Alptekin and ATC President General Jones made the opening remarks and as usual both business and public sector paid great attention to the event. During the first day of the conference, expectations regarding Turkey-US relations were discussed.
At the 36th Annual ATC-TAİK Conference, DEİK President Ömer Cihad Vardan, DEİK/TAİK Chairman Ekim Alptekin and ATC President General Jones made the opening speeches. DEİK President Ömer Cihad Vardan drew attention to the timing of the Conference and to the opportunities that the Conference offers to business communities for learning, developing relations and forming trade partnerships. "Defense, energy, security and bilateral trade will be the key determinants in the new period between Turkey and US. Within this framework, as the business community we are here to fulfill our duty in the new period. Our goal is to unite Turkish and American business people and to create the roadmap of the new term" said President Vardan and added that the Turkish Business Community is ready to give support.
During his opening remarks, DEİK/TAİK Chairman Ekim Alptekin, underlined the significance of Turkey-US relations and drew attention to the fact that despite US not being the main export partner of Turkey this Annual Conference is the only bilateral country conference that still continues for 36 years. He emphasized that global peace and stability are very important for both countries. "Without peace and stability, there will be neither trade nor economic development," said Mr. Alptekin.
American Turkish Council's President General Jones listed the steps that need to be taken in order to carry economic-strategic partnership to an upper level by assessing the recent developments in the Turkey-US relations.
The Annual Conference aiming to develop bilateral economic and trade relations between Turkey and US, continued with panels on the topics of defense, construction, and infrastructure, trade, cyber security, finance, retail, and manufacturing.
