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THE AMERICAN TURKISH SOCIETY and TURKISH-US BUSINESS COUNCIL (TAIK)/DEIK

For Immediate Release                                           

Contact: Selen Ucak , 212.583.7614; Serra Tanman , (90)212.339.5000

TURKEY AN ATTRACTIVE DESTINATION FOR STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS

Conference on March 23 highlighted recent successes and opportunities for foreign investors

New York, NY – March 24, 2007 – Turkish State Minister H.E. Ali Babacan and several other distinguished speakers addressed nearly 200 American investors and senior business executives from Turkey at a conference, "Turkey: The New Destination for Direct   Investment and Private Equity," on Friday at The St. Regis Hotel in New York.   The conference, co-hosted by The American Turkish Society and Turkish-US Business Council (TAIK) discussed growing foreign interest in direct, private equity and real estate investments in Turkey . It was sponsored by leading American companies with operations in Turkey, Merrill Lynch & Co., Baker & McKenzie LLP, and American International Group, Inc. (AIG).

American investors experienced in Turkey were among the experts that provided an analysis of the country's investment climate. Nick Rohatyn , CEO and CIO of The Rohatyn Group, stated that Turkey has become much more resilient to global economic shocks; boasts a vibrant and entrepreneurial private sector with strong   management and support services; and offers attractive opportunities to investors.   H.E. Ali Babacan, Turkey 's State Minister in charge of the economy and Chief Negotiator for European Union Affairs, underlined Turkey 's commitment to economic reform and stability.   Stating that "capital has no color or nationality," Babacan highlighted the growth in investment inflows  to Turkey in recent years.  

Other distinguished speakers included Alpaslan Korkmaz (President of the Turkish Investment Support and Promotion Agency), Sani Şener (TAV), Dennis van den Broek (Baker & McKenzie), Osman Kökmen (Merrill Lynch),   Seymur Tari (Turkven),   Hilmi Güvenal (Reform Kurumsal),   Ron Drake (Bedminster Capital), Mustafa Erhan Say (AccessTurkey Capital Group),   Laurence Pettit (Baker & McKenzie), Oktay Varlier (Turkish Tourism Investors Association), Jacques Morand (Hyatt International Hotels and Resorts), Jonathan Kern (GE Real Estate) and Mehmet Sami (Ata Invest).

The inaugural joint conference on Friday was the latest in The American Turkish Society and Turkish-American Business Council (TAIK)/DEIK's long history of promoting business relations between the two countries.   Co-hosts Murat Köprülü, President of The American Turkish Society and Chairman & CEO of Multilateral Funding International, and Ferit F. Şahenk, Chairman of TAIK and CEO of Doğuş Group, also addressed the attendees.

The American Turkish Society, founded in 1949, is America 's oldest not-for-profit organization seeking to enhance economic, political, and cultural ties between Turkey and the United States . The Society achieves its mission by bringing together leaders in government, including Prime Ministers, Ministers of State and Ambassadors, as well as business leaders, journalists, and scholars covering a spectrum of fields. In addition, it sponsors international education programs and cultural initiatives.  

Turkish-US Business Council (TAIK)/DEIK, founded in 1985, originally in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is the largest and most established of the 76 bilateral councils operating under the permanent secretariat of Turkey 's international trade umbrella, The Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEİK). TAİK's vision is to increase the volume of Turkey-U.S. trade (as a minimum to Turkey-EU level), to be recognized as the source of information and networking on bilateral issues for both Turkish and U.S. companies and to assist U.S. companies to view Turkey as a key partner and destination for direct investments in the region.

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Members of the press wishing to learn more about the conference may contact Selen Ucak , Executive Director of   The Society,  at 212-583-7614, or Serra Tanman , Acting Regional Coordinator of   TAIK at (90)212.339.5000.