On Tuesday, November 19, a distinguished delegation from Kyrgyzstan attended the opening event of the Kyrgyz American Convention at the Turkic American Alliance headquarters. The delegation included the Honorable Kanybek Imanaliev, Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of the Kyrgyz Parliament; Ulukbek Kochkorov, Vice President of the Ata-Jurt Party and Deputy of the Kyrgyz Parliament; Ravshan Jeenbekov, Deputy of the Kyrgyz Parliament; and the former Minister of Economic Development Emil Umetaliev. His Excellency Muktar Djumaliev, Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan, was also present at the luncheon, in addition to staff from the Turkic American Alliance (TAA), TAFM, the Kyrgyz American Association, MAFTAA, the Rethink Institute, JIA (Association of Young Entrepreneurs of Kyrgyzstan) and TUSKON.
Before lunch was served, TAA President Faruk Taban introduced the work of the Turkic American Alliance through a short video, followed by a more in-depth PowerPoint presentation in Turkish. Rethink Institute Executive Director Dr. Fevzi Bilgin next discussed the work of the Rethink Institute and presented the topics of the Forum Session for the First Annual Kyrgyz American Convention. Dr. Almazbek Beishenaliev of TAA provided translation into Kyrgyz.
A delicious lunch was served, during which a video of the 2013 Turkic American Convention was presented.
As guests enjoyed dessert and fresh fruit, Secretary Emil Umetaliev addressed the audience by encouraging those visiting from Kyrgyzstan to maximize their experience in the United States through thoughtful observations in order to transfer knowledge gained upon their return to Kyrgyzstan. Next, TUSKON Executive Director of the U.S. Representative Office, Hakan Taşçı, explained a history of the U.S. economy and provided tips on how to successfully invest in the United States.
The Kyrgyz delegation and TAA staff are all eagerly anticipating the First Annual Kyrgyz American Convention, which will continue tomorrow, November 20, at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
