American Business Forum in Turkey & Izmir Development Agency Announce June 2nd Washington Conference

ABFT and IZKA To Review Business Potential in Turkey For Select American Business Audience

American companies will attend a half-day briefing on a 2009 survey of 105 US companies operating in Turkey, and unique development opportunities available in the Izmir Turkish Enterprise Zone

TURKEY- 15 May — A unique presentation under the auspices of the Government of the Turkish Republic and the United States Chamber of Commerce (USCC) will outline evolving market and investment opportunities for American businesses on June 2nd, 2009 at the USCC office in Washington DC.

The American Business Forum in Turkey (ABFT)’s 2009 “Survey on Business and Investment Climate in Turkey,” polled senior executives representing 70 leading US companies with active investments and operations in Turkey. The survey reveals that business expectations remain optimistic, and a clear majority of executives (70%) report they anticipate increasing their investments in Turkey in coming years.

The Izmir Development Agency (IZKA), one of two pilot Development Agencies in Turkey in 2006, is charged with supporting local and regional entrepreneurship, bringing NGOs and the private sector together and fostering business and economic development in the region. IZKA works in close cooperation with the Republic of Turkey Prime Ministry Investment Support and Promotion Agency and renders its services free of charge, helping investors expedite paperwork, cut through red tape, and make use of IZKA’s extensive network of local, regional and national experts.

Brief opening remarks by ABFT Galip Sukaya, Grassroots Outreach Director Leslie Schweitzer of Traderoots – USCC and IZKA Executive Board Member Yilmaz Temizocak and Secretary General Erguder Can will be followed by a short film and presentation about opportunities in Izmir and in Turkey. This portion of the program will be open to the press, government officials, business and NGOs. Attending exectutives will then have the opportunity to pose questions directly to IZKA representatives. ABFT Chairman Sukaya and Executive Director will then discuss the 2009 survey and its results in comparison with 2007 and 2008 findings. Chairman Sukaya will then moderate a question-and-answer session. The second portion of the program will be restricted to food and agribusiness companies. The entire day’s program will be in English.

For more information please contact Sezer Koyun at +90 212 243 3511 (abft@abft.net) and Zeynep Tansug at +90 554 279 3102 (zeynep.tansug@izka.org.tr)