EVENTS

Convening more than 400 representatives from numerous sectors, government offices, government affiliated organizations and non-governmental organizations, the 36^th ATC-TAIK Joint Annual Conference on U.S.-Turkey Relations took place between 21-23 May 2017 at the Trump International Hotel in Washington D.C.

Please click here to read the Post Conference Report.

OPENING RECEPTION

The Conference kicked-off with an Opening Reception on May 21st at the Republic of Turkey Ambassador’s Official Residence where the Republic of Turkey Ambassador to United States H.E. Serdar Kılıç and the Dow Chemical Chairman and CEO Mr. Andrew Liveris delivered their engaging remarks.

The conference continued with two-full days of intriguing and fruitful general sessions, panel discussions and roundtable meetings.

OPENING SESSION

The first day of the sessions, May 22, started with the Opening Session where ATC CEO Howard Beasey, TAİK Chairman Ekim Alptekin, ATC Chairman General Jones and DEİK Chairman Ömer Cihad Vardan delivered their opening remarks.

POLITICAL PLENARY

Following the Opening Session, Political Plenary, which explores the recent political environment, took place. In the Political Plenary moderated by Gillian Turner, APCO Worldwide Director Joshua Walker and U.S. Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Jonathan R. Cohen discussed how the U.S. and Turkey can strengthen and define their mutual interest within the larger regional context, the NATO alliance and joint efforts to fight against terrorism. Following the Plenary, an Interview Session exploring the importance of the NATO alliance and U.S.-Turkey strategic cooperation to regional stability convened. Moderated by General James L. Jones, the interview session brought together Turkish General Staff, Director of J-5 Plans and Policy Directorate LTG. Yavuz Türkgenci and U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Director of J-5 Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate LtGen. Kenneth F. McKenzie for a vivid discussion on the Turkey-U.S. strategic relationship.

PANELS

(A1) Defense // Defense Policy Changes in the U.S. and Turkey

Howard Beasey, President &CEO, American-Turkish Council; LTG. Yavuz Türkgenci, Director of Plans and Policy Directorate, Turkish General Staff; Prof. Dr. Ismail Demir, Undersecretary, Ministry of Defense Undersecretariat of Defense Industries

(A2) Construction & Infrastructure // Global Infrastructure Opportunities and America’s Trillion Dollar Promise

Nizamettin Derbil, Chair, Energy & Infrastructure Committee, American-Turkish Council; Burak Talu, CEO, Dogus Construction and Trade Inc.; Robert Yuksel Yildirim, President & CEO, Yildirim Holding; Ziad Haider, Senior Associate, Simon Chair in Political Economy, CSIS; Norman Anderson, President & CEO, CG/LA Infrastructure

MONDAY LUNCHEON

Monday Luncheon welcomed Republic of Turkey Ambassador to United States H.E. Serdar Kılıç and and Kibar Holding CEO Tamer Saka as keynote speakers. The conference attendees enjoyed a meal while having a chance to network.

PANELS cont.

(B1) Trade // Trade Policies and the Trump Administration: Assessing the Impact on the U.S.-Turkey Trade Relationship

Mustafa Mente, Secretary General, DEIK; Frank Schweitzer, Counsel, International Trade Group, White & Case LLP; Dean Pinkert, Partner, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP; Doreen Edelman, Co-Leader, Global Business Team, Baker Donelson

(B2) Cybersecurity // Opportunities for Collaboration on Critical National Infrastructure Cybersecurity

Navroop Mitter, CEO, ArmorText; Egemen Tas, Senior VP, Engineering, Comodo; Yakup Borekcioglu, General Manager, Mediterranean, Trend Micro; RADM (ret.) Bill Leigher, Director, Government Cyber Solutions, Raytheon; Ebru Bjarnason, Account Manager, CSRA

(C1) Finance & Investment // Growth through M&A: The Role of PE Investments

Baris Oney, Founder and Managing Partner, GlobalTurk Capital; Savas Yanik, Vice President, Operations, Havelsan; Pratish Shah, CEO, Quantum3D; Adnan Nas, Non-Executive Board Member, Global Investment Holding; Ruzgar Barisik, Senior Investment Officer, IFC

SUBSESSION Presentation: Architecture

Murat Tabanlioglu, Co-Founder, Tabanlioglu Architects

(C2) Retail & Manufacturing // The Rise of E-Commerce: How Your Business Can Capitalize

Baris Ornarli, Representative, TUSIAD; Ceyhun “Jay” Dogan, COO & Co-Owner, Tayse International Trading Inc.; Paul Demery, Business/Technology Editor-Writer, B2BecNews; Justin King, Founder, eCommerceandB2B.com; Ashley Asli Olcer, Manager, Business Intelligence & Strategy, Global Sales and International Seller Services, Amazon; Husnu Dilemre, Deputy Undersecretary, Ministry of Economy

SUBSESSION Presentation: Opportunities for Turkish Manufacturing Companies in the U.S.

Patrick Anderson, Principal and CEO, Anderson Economic Group

NETWORKING RECEPTION

At the conclusion of the first day of the conference, the attendees had a chance to unwind and mingle at the Networking Reception sponsored by the Turkish Airlines.

GOLDEN HORN BREAKFAST

The second day of the conference, May 23^rd, started with a closed breakfast session. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee Taha Ozhan and U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom J. Donohue delivered their remarks, underscoring the importance of trade and investment between our countries.

ECONOMIC PLENARY

Following the Golden Horn Breakfast, the conference continued with the Economic Plenary. The plenary session focusing on the current status of the business and investment climate in Turkey brought together ISPAT Head of Department Ahmet Burak Daglioglu, EBRD Turkey Managing Director Jean-Patrick Marquet, Philip Morris Turkey Managing Director Enrique Jimenez and Anderson Economic Group Principal & CEO Patrick Anderson.

PANELS

(D1) Defense // Industry Update: From Aerospace to Outer Space, Traditional Partnerships to Mergers and Acquisitions

Jerry Kaffka, Colonel (Ret.), Former Defense Attache, Turkey , U.S. Air Force; Jeffrey Schloesser, Strategic Vice President, Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC); Steve Ziff, President & CEO, NOVA Power Solutions Inc.; Temel Kotil, General Manager, TAI

(D2) Energy // Super Batteries: Advanced Energy Storage and Smart Grid Applications

Fatih Ayhan, Chairman of the Board, DFA Engineering; Batuhan Ozdemir, Chairman and Member of the Board, Limak Energy; Caglan Kumbur, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering an Mechanics, Drexel University; Omer Gogen, General Manager / Board Member, Özgen Elektrik ve Ticaret A.Ş.

(D3) Agribusiness // The “Growing” Organic Agriculture Industry

Fergul Kuzucuoglu, Founder, AFK Strategies Inc.; Ahmet Hepdogan, VP Global Procurement & Supplier Quality, Ferrara Candy Company; Onur Bulbul, Founder and President, InnoNative Advisors; Joe Lukitsch, President, Lukitsch & Company

TUESDAY LUNCHEON

Tuesday Luncheon hosted the Honorable Newt Gingrich, Former Speaker of The House, as the keynote speaker. Gingrich, an avid friend of Turkey, delivered an engaging speech underlining the iimportance of partnerships.

PANELS cont.

(E1) Investment & Finance // Sustainable Financing Mechanisms for Infrastructure

Mariana Silva, Infrastructure Planning and Project Finance Associate, Nathan Associates; Duncan Caird, Head Infrastructure & Real Estate Group, Americas, HSBC Global Banking and Markets, USA; Neal Stolleman, Economist, Office of Economic Policy; Jean-Patrick Marquet, Managing Director, Turkey, EBRD

(E2) R&D/Innovation // Additive Manufacturing: Its Impact on the Future of Making Things

Banu Onaral, H. H. Sun Professor, Drexel University; Canan Ozsoy, President and CEO, GE Turkey; Volkan Emre, Co-Founder & CEO, Pergatech

SUBSESSION Presentation: Work 3.0

Ihsan Elgin, Founder, Core Strateji

(E3) Shipbuilding Industry Roundtable Discussion

GALA DINNER

Following the conclusion of the panels and sessions, Tuesday night Gala Dinner started. During the Gala, Platinum Sponsor SBK Holding Chairman Sezgin Baran Korkmaz, Samumed CEO Osman Kibar and Actor Cade Carradine delivered their remarks.

THE AWARDS GIVEN THROUGHOUT THE CONFERENCE