Turkish - American Chamber Of Commerce And Industry Formed

NEW YORK - Turkish-American Chamber of Commerce and Industry was formed on Tuesday in New York to meet the needs of increasing business volume between Turkey and the United States.
The foundation of chamber was announced in a press conference which was held by New York Trade Attache Akin Kinikli, his deputy Yuksel Akca and lawyer Robert Zara.
The first general assembly of the chamber which was also supported by State Minister in charge of foreign trade Kursad Tuzmen and the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu will be held on January 7, 2003 in New York.
New executive board is expected to be chosen in the meeting. Official opening of the chamber will be done by Tuzmen during Turkish Textile Fair which will be held in New York between January 21 and 23.
Kinikli stated that the aims of chamber are developing trade between Turkey and the United States, increasing exports to the United States which has a national income worth of 36.000 U.S. dollars per capita, organizing fairs, holding contacts between businessmen, increasing U.S. based foreign investments in Turkey, establishing solidarity between Turkish firms working in the United States, forming business committees and solving the problems in relations with U.S. offices with the help of chamber.
Noting that the number of American firms which make investments in Turkey is 365, Kinikli said that they will launch promotion activities and help American firms open to other countries via Turkey.
Kinikli said that countries such as Italy, France and Spain formed joint trade chambers with the United States between 1887 and 1900, adding that those countries are among the five countries which the United States mostly makes export and Turkey takes place among the first 40 countries. He said that Turkey also takes place among 140 countries which benefit from general preference system of the United States.
Kinikli said that the companies which would like to participate in the new Chamber of Commerce and Industry can contact with the office of Turkish trade attache in New York.
The United States ranks the second in export and third in import of Turkey.