March 19, 2015, Washington, D.C. – Nearly 100 international guests from 15 different countries travelled to Washington D.C. to participate at the 5th Annual Turkic American Convention & Business Summit on March 17-19, 2015. Guests from Azerbaijan, Canada, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Iraq, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tajikistan, Tanzania and Turkey arrived at the capital of the United States on Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17 to take part in the convention, meet their counterparts from other countries as well as from various parts of the world and to build relationships that would foster mutual understanding, cooperation, trade and investment.
Some distinguished guests that made up the delegations from these countries were Kiprono Kittony, National Chairman of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Umaru Mutallab, Chairman of Jaiz Bank of Nigeria, Members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Aykan Erdemir, Ilhan Isbilen and Enver Erdem, Members of the Parliament from Mongolia, Sainkhuu Ganbaatar and Khurelbaatar Chimed, Vice Chairman of U.S. India Investors Forum, Munaj Gursahani and former Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia, Dr. Roman Gotsiridze.
Guests were greeted with a breakfast at 8:00 AM ET on March 17 at the Turkic American Alliance’s headquarters, during which they were given their schedules and programs for the convention. Later that day, at 1:00 PM ET, some of the guests attended Samanyolu Broadcasting Group’s Grand Opening ceremony of Washington, D.C. Broadcasting Studio. Throughout the day international guests attended meetings at the U.S. Department of State, where they met with American foreign policy officials, as well as Capitol Hill, where they met with U.S. Representatives, Senators and congressional staff. At 5:30 PM ET, guests attended the formal Welcome Reception at the Russell Senate Office Building.
On Wednesday, March 18, international guests met at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center for a business breakfast meeting at 8:00 AM ET. During this meeting, they were familiarized with SelectUSA by its executive director, Amb. Vinai Thummalapally. Throughout the day, guests toured Washington D.C., while some continued their meetings with U.S. officials, ambassadors of their countries to the U.S. and elected representatives in Congress. At 6:30 PM ET, guests attended the Gala Reception at the Willard InterContinental Hotel.
