Cablegate: Business Seminars Set for Five Turkish Cities

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RR RUEHDA
DE RUEHAK #3636 1711301
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201301Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6718
INFO RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0826
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 0885
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC

UNCLAS ANKARA 003636

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

USDOC FOR 4212/ITA/MAC/CPD/CRUSNAK
PASS EXIMBANK FOR MARGARET KOSTIC
PASS OPIC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BEXP ETRD KPAO TU
SUBJECT: BUSINESS SEMINARS SET FOR FIVE TURKISH CITIES

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.

1. (SBU) U.S. Chamber of Commerce officials visited Turkey June
12-16 to settle the final details of a five-city series of trade
outreach seminars aimed at small and medium-sized Turkish firms.
The Chamber will implement the one-day long seminars jointly with
Turkey's leading business association, the Union of Chambers and
Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) and with local chambers in the five
cities. The two organizations agreed on a budget under which TOBB
or the local chambers will pay for the costs of interpretation and
catering for the five events. The Chamber's portion of the overall
budget, including transportation and per diem for visiting experts
from the United States and publication of a "guide book" and website
on doing business with the United States, will be supported by
$200,000 out of a $400,000 business development grant extended by
USAID using ESF funds to the Carana Corporation.

2. (SBU) The events will be held on July 24 and 26 in Ankara and
Kayseri and September 11 and 13 in Izmir and Gazianetep, with the
final event September 15 in Istanbul. The draft agenda includes
sessions on,

1) Success stories of Turkish businesses in the
United States.

2) Overviews of key sectors in each of the five
cities and the potential of those sectors in
the U.S. market.

3) Marketing and brand establishment in the U.S.
market.

4) Legal, logistical and financial issues involved
in exporting to the United States.

5) U.S. business resources available to Turkish
exporters.

3. (SBU) Throughout the day there will be opportunities for
networking and relationship building. The U.S. Chamber and TOBB
expect a total of up to 900 Turkish businesses to participate. TOBB
will rely on local chambers of commerce and industry as well as on
its own resources to develop a comprehensive invitation list of
companies that demonstrate potential to enter the U.S. market. U.S.
Chamber-recruited participants include representatives of U.S.
marketing companies and business associations, law firms, shipping
companies and banks, leaders of state and local chambers of
commerce, and U.S. Government (FCS and OPIC) representatives. Both
the Chamber and TOBB say they hope that these events will lead to
long-term cooperation and partnership between the two
organizations.

4. (SBU) Comment. The United States has lost market share as
Turkey's economy and trade sectors boomed after the 2001 financial
crisis. Total Turkish trade grew from $86 billion to $190 billion
between 2002 and 2005, but trade with the United States rose from
just $6 billion to $10 billion over the same period. Bringing this
project -- which breaks new ground for both the U.S. Chamber and
TOBB -- to fruition has not been easy, and Post appreciates the
support of USAID. The programs should "show the flag," contribute
to the expansion of trade relationships, and seed a long-term
relationship between the largest U.S. and Turkish business
organizations. The seminars' regional dimension and the focus on
SME's is particularly positive in helping develop grassroots support
for the bilateral relationship. We expect that all of the events,
particularly the opening and closing sessions in Ankara and
Istanbul, to generate significant positive press coverage.
WILSON

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