ABOUT ABFT AMCHAM TURKEY
Elif Demircan
Message from the Executive Director Elif Demircan
Efforts to strengthen economic ties between Turkey and the United States are gaining momentum, as demonstrated by the marked increase in bilateral trade between 2021 and 2021. Established in 2021 as an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Business Forum in Turkey (AmCham Turkey/ABFT) is helping to drive this trend by facilitating cooperation between public and private sector leaders from both countries and by advocating for open markets.
Most importantly, AmCham Turkey/ABFT has given its U.S. member companies a platform to engage with policy makers and seize commercial opportunities. Given Turkey’s large and fast-growing economy, as well as its strategic location and young population, these opportunities will only increase in the future. This was reflected in the 2021 ABFT Business and Investment Climate Survey, which found that over 90% of American companies believe the local market potential is “considerable”.
We believe that 2021 has marked another turning point for ABFT wtih the election of a new Board that will serve until 2021. It is an honor to serve a prestigious membership that includes leading firms across every industry, from banking to information technologies, from healthcare to financial and legal services. AmCham Turkey/ABFT new Board of Directors include Serra Akcaoglu, Citibank Turkey CEO and Board Member; Tankut Turnaoglu, Procter & Gamble Chairman of the Board Turkey and Caucasus; Canan Ozsoy, GE Turkey President and CEO; Tamer Ozmen, Microsoft Turkey General Manager; Ihsan Necipoglu, Dow General Manager Turkey and Central Asia; Mine Ozturk, Baxter International General Manager; Neil Pryor, PepsiCo General Manager; Daniel R. Matthews, Baker & McKenzie Managing Partner; Haluk Yalcin, PwC Turkey Territory Senior Partner; Dilek Mutus, Wells Fargo Bank, Executive VP and GFI Head, TRAMS; Bernard J. Dunn, Boeing Turkey and North Africa President; Andrei Holban, 3M Managing Director; Cigdem Ertem, Intel Middle East, Turkey and Africa Regional Director; Huseyin Gurer, Deloitte. Turkey CEO; Christophe Merkel, Nike General Manager; Asgar Rangoonwala, Janssen Managing Director; Nilgun Langenberg, Korn Ferry International Managing Director; Ufku Akaltan, UPS Turkey General Manager; Roberto Pedretti, Nielsen CEO; and, Gokhan Togrul, Hay Group General Manager.
Over the next years and beyond, the ABFT leadership team will continue to cultivate a liberal and equitable business environment in Turkey. We will also launch new member services. In doing so, we will not only help our members to achieve business results, but also support the Turkish economy, which needs foreign direct investment (FDI) to achieve sustainable growth.
Efforts to strengthen economic ties between Turkey and the United States are gaining momentum, as demonstrated by the marked increase in bilateral trade between 2021 and 2021. Established in 2021 as an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Business Forum in Turkey (AmCham Turkey/ABFT) is helping to drive this trend by facilitating cooperation between public and private sector leaders from both countries and by advocating for open markets.
Most importantly, AmCham Turkey/ABFT has given its U.S. member companies a platform to engage with policy makers and seize commercial opportunities. Given Turkey’s large and fast-growing economy, as well as its strategic location and young population, these opportunities will only increase in the future. This was reflected in the 2021 ABFT Business and Investment Climate Survey, which found that over 90% of American companies believe the local market potential is “considerable”.
We believe that 2021 has marked another turning point for ABFT wtih the election of a new Board that will serve until 2021. It is an honor to serve a prestigious membership that includes leading firms across every industry, from banking to information technologies, from healthcare to financial and legal services. AmCham Turkey/ABFT new Board of Directors include Serra Akcaoglu, Citibank Turkey CEO and Board Member; Tankut Turnaoglu, Procter & Gamble Chairman of the Board Turkey and Caucasus; Canan Ozsoy, GE Turkey President and CEO; Tamer Ozmen, Microsoft Turkey General Manager; Ihsan Necipoglu, Dow General Manager Turkey and Central Asia; Mine Ozturk, Baxter International General Manager; Neil Pryor, PepsiCo General Manager; Daniel R. Matthews, Baker & McKenzie Managing Partner; Haluk Yalcin, PwC Turkey Territory Senior Partner; Dilek Mutus, Wells Fargo Bank, Executive VP and GFI Head, TRAMS; Bernard J. Dunn, Boeing Turkey and North Africa President; Andrei Holban, 3M Managing Director; Cigdem Ertem, Intel Middle East, Turkey and Africa Regional Director; Huseyin Gurer, Deloitte. Turkey CEO; Christophe Merkel, Nike General Manager; Asgar Rangoonwala, Janssen Managing Director; Nilgun Langenberg, Korn Ferry International Managing Director; Ufku Akaltan, UPS Turkey General Manager; Roberto Pedretti, Nielsen CEO; and, Gokhan Togrul, Hay Group General Manager.
Over the next years and beyond, the ABFT leadership team will continue to cultivate a liberal and equitable business environment in Turkey. We will also launch new member services. In doing so, we will not only help our members to achieve business results, but also support the Turkish economy, which needs foreign direct investment (FDI) to achieve sustainable growth.
Sincerely,
Elif Demircan
AmCham Turkey/ABFT
