Organized by the Turkic American Alliance in cooperation with the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) and the Rethink Institute – the 2013 Turkic American Convention, will be held on Wednesday, March 12-13 at JW Marriott Hotel in Washington, DC. This year leading policy makers from several countries such as, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will discuss issues focused on energy, trade and development.
Last year over 700 people attended the event, and among the guests were over 60 Members of Congress, and members of the Turkish Parliament. This year’s sponsors- Halk Bank, Ziraat Bank, Turkish American Airlines, the Turkish Review and Today’s Zaman and the organizers – provide policy makers, ministers, ambassadors and corporations from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan a unique opportunity to discuss critical and timely energy-related issues. The convention will conclude with an Annual Gala, allowing the participants to network with people from many different backgrounds and professional expertise.
The 2013 Turkic American Convention presents a forum set to explore new economic opportunities and potential partnerships between the United States and the growing economies of Turkey, Azerbaijan, and the Central Asian Republics. The forum incorporates seven separate sessions focusing on thematic issues, policies, and debates relevant to each of the featured countries. An eighth session will feature a signature executive program in Turkish. Please visit the convention website for further information and registration http://turkicamericanconvention.org/.
Among the confirmed forum and keynote speakers are:
H.E. Temir SARIYEV, Minister of Economy and Antimonopoly Policy, Republic of Kyrgyzstan
Hon. Kirsten GILLIBRAND, U.S. Senator, New York
Honorable Ileana ROS-LEHTINEN, U.S. Representative, Florida
Hon. Samad SEYIDOV, Chairman of International and Inter-Parliamentary Relations
National Parliament of Azerbaijan
Hon. Ted POE, U.S. Representative, Texas
Hon. Ekrem ERDEM, AK Party Deputy Chairman, Turkey
Hon. Kanybek IMANALIYEV, Chairman of Foreign Relations Committee, Kyrgyz Supreme Council
H.E. Muktar DJUMALIYEV, Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to the United States
H.E. Ilhom NEMATOV, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the United States
H.E. Meret ORAZOV, Ambassador of Turkmenistan to the United States
H.E. Nuriddin SHAMSOV, Ambassador of Tajikistan to the United States
H.E. Elin SULEYMANOV, Ambassador of Republic of Azerbaijan to the United States
H.E. Namik TAN, Ambassador of Turkey to the United States
H.E. Kairat UMAROV, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United States
Mr. Robert HORMATS, Undersecretary of State Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs
Mr. Robert BLAKE, Assistant Secretary of State, South and Central Asian Affairs
Mr. Daniel ROSENBLUM, Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia, Department of State
Mr. Eric RUBIN, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs
Amb. John HERBST, Director for the Center of Complex Operations, National Defense University
Dr. Kadir TOPBAS, Mayor of Istanbul, Turkey
Amb. Halil AKINCI, Secretary General, Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States
Rear Admiral RON MACLAREN, Director, Joint Contingency Acquisition Support Office, Defense Logistics Agency
Mr. Paul POLETES, Deputy Director, Office of Central Asian Affairs, Department of State
Ms. Mara BURR, Deputy Assistant for South and Central Asia, Office of the US Trade Representative
Ms. Laurie CURRY, Director of Central Asia, Office of US Trade Representative
Mr. William COURTNEY, Former U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan
Mr. Franklin HUDDLE, Former U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan
Mr. Ross WILSON, Former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Atlantic Council
Mr. Rizanur MERAL, Chairman, COnfederation of Businessmen and Industrialist of Turkey
Mr. Charles R. JOHNSTON, Chair, U.S.-Turkey Business Council & Senior VP of International Government Affairs, Citigroup
Mr. Atilla KURAMA, Chief Executive Officer, Yildiz Holding, Turkey
Mr. Islambek SALZHANOV, President, Altyn Kyran Companies of Kazakhstan
Prof. Haluk UNAL, Chairman, Turkish American Scientists and Scholars Association
Prof. Michael CAIN, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Dr. Erol Cebeci, Executive Director, SETA-DC
Dr. Bulent ARAS, Director, Center for Strategic Studies, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkey
Dr. Richard WEITZ, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute
Dr. Ariel COHEN, Senior Fellow, Heritage Foundation
Dr. Joshua WALKER, Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow
Mr. Ata CEYLAN, Energy Group Chairman, Ortadogu Group of Companies
Mr. Eric STEWART, President, US – Turkmenistan Business Council
Ms. Julia NANAY, Senior Director, PFC Energy
Mr. David MERKEL, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Director, National Security Council
Mr. Beyhan Nakiboglu, President of Nema Food
Mr. Ali ASLAN, Washington Correspondent and Columnist, Zaman & Today’s Zaman
Ms. Erica MARAT, American University
