Throughout this first half of 2010, we have successfully continued to strengthen member relations, and have consistantly worked toward organizational sustainability. These are two of ABFT’s primary goals and objectives, and we will continue to promote these targets, and others, as stated in our bylaws. During this past one-year presidential term, we have kept the Association’s development process moving. We have seen many new organizations, new members, and new strategic initiatives, as well as diverse ongoing ABFT activities on business networking, advocacy&lobby, government relations and investment development.
A strong membership foundation, continuing institutionalization, and sustainability are the Board of Director’s primary objectives, guiding our decision-making, problem solving and event planning initiatives every step of the way.
In the context of our ongoing goal to gain new members, we have made substantial progress, meeting 50 US companies and gaining 21 new corporate members. ABFT welcomed the following new members this year:
1. Best Buy
2. Bilgi University – Laureate Education Inc.
3. Dewey & LeBoeuf
4. Dupont Turkey
5. Ernst &Young
6. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development-EBRD
7. Ford
8. Good Year
9. Hewlett Packard
10. KPMG
11. Liberty Insurance
12. Marsh Insurance
13. Merrill Lynch
14. Monster
15. Pizza Hut and KFC
16. Procter and Gamble
17. Radisson Blu
18. SAS Turkey
19. The Carlyle Group
20. The Ritz Carlton Hotel
21. TRW Automotive
With the support of the US Ambassador to Turkey, Mr. James Jeffrey, ABFT has continued organizing activities for our seventy-two members, and has held membership meetings with thirty additional companies. During the past year, we have also held strategic meetings with TÜSİAD, TOBB, DEİK, TAİK, YASED, İTO and many foreign chambers of commerces operating in Turkey.
With regard to our corporate media strategy, we have developed strong relations with the media. Just this year, we were represented with sixty-nine published covers, sixty-five internet covers, and seven TV appearances, in the form of articles, interviews and news reports.
We have continued to strengthen our international relations through special meetings held with the US Chamber of Commerce and Foreign Economic Missions from the US, as well as close relations with the European Council of American Chambers of Commerce and the Eurasian Business Forum.
We have increased opportunities for collobration with non-governmental organizations within parallel fields of activity, and have organized advocacy meetings with government officials to raise our US Member Companies’ common concerns. In addition to these activities, we have consistantly supported US- Turkish commercial relations, increasing collobration with other US Chambers of Commerce and increasing investment opportunities for US companies in Turkey. We have also been working for ABFT’s adaptation for establishing the association’s corporate governance structure. This has all been in compliance with recent changes regarding the associations’ law as part of Turkey’s European Union harmonization process.
Our activities have strength with the participation of our valued Members, and Member relations will continue to grow within the association. As the Board of Directors, we believe that these relations will continue strengthening our association as we grow and develop into the future.
Thank you for your continued support—let’s keep up the good work.
Best Regards,
Rahşan Cebe
Chair of the Board
American Business Forum in Turkey
Dear ABFT Members and Colleagues,
