TURKISH CANDIDATES FOR MAKTOUM FOUNDATION

UNCLAS ANKARA 001195 SENSITIVE SIPDIS EEB FOR STEPHEN KAPLITT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL SUBJECT: TURKISH CANDIDATES FOR MAKTOUM FOUNDATION ENTREPRENEURS CONFERENCE REF: STATE 62387 ¶1. Per reftel, we offer seven candidates for possible participation in a Maktoum Foundation Conference to be held in Dubai in early 2009. Their names and descriptions follow: ¶2. Ms. Mutlu Alkan: She is an executive in the family company Malkan Makina textile machinery and has greatly expanded its reach. She is the Director of the International Relations Committee of AKP, Istanbul branch. She participated in an International Visitors Program (IVP) in FY2006. She is an active IV Alumni, keeping in touch with other participants, and traveling to their countries to give speeches. She also invited IVP alumni to Turkey to participate in various meetings organized by the Justice and Development Party (AKP). She became a member of the Women Entrepreneurs Committee that was recently established in TOBB Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey. Contact information: Piyale Pasa Bulvari, Pim3 Is Merkezi, Kat 1, Caglayan, Turkey, 90-532-563-3808, email: mutlu at alkan.com.tr ¶3. Ms. Ayse Bali, Rafineri Advertising-Istanbul: A graduate of Robert College, she is one of the top graphic designers in Turkey. She founded Rafineri Advertising in 2001 with two other partners. The company is now the largest independent advertising agency in Turkey. In addition she owns a T-shirt brand which displays Ottoman motifs. Contact information: Rafineri Advertising, Asmalimescid Mahallesi, Mesrutiyet Caddesi, No: 99, Tepebasi-Istanbul, Turkey 34420, 90-212-334-6600, Email: ayse.bali at rafineri.net ¶4. Mr. Mustafa Kaygusuz, Foreign Trade Manager, Lastik Dunyasi Inc.; Foreign Trade Manager, Veday Mining Inc.; Owner, Zett Bijoux Store; General Secretary, International Interaction Society. Mustafa Kaygusuz is a young Muslim who works in foreign trade. He and a friend founded the International Interaction Society after they encountered a foreigner who lived in Ankara but had been trying without success to meet Turks. The non-profit organization has grown rapidly and now hosts regular "IIS Country Seminars" at which diplomatic representatives are invited to introduce their countries in informal lectures; offers excursions to historical sites and cities in the region; welcomes language learners to weekly Turkish conversation nights; and even offers Turkish cooking courses. Contact information: Birlik Mahallesi, 18th Sokak No. 14/1, Cankaya, Ankara, 90-312-496-1146 ¶5. Mr. Obahan Obaoglu, owns and directs Strategic Communications Consultancy and the Genc Lider youth leader NGO. He is the former deputy vice chairman for youth in True Path Party (DYP) and Party Vice Chairman for Science and Technology. He is involved in national and international educational programs and has taken an active role in lobbying parliament to reduce the eligible age for election to 25. Former International Visitor Program participant. He speaks English and German. Contact information: 39. Caddesi 14/21 Birlik Apt., Cukurambar, Ankara, 90-312-468-8750 ¶6. Mr. Selcuk Ozturk -- President of the Konya branch of conservative businessmen association MUSIAD. He works in the auto spare parts industry. He represents a typical central Anatolia businessman in that he does not use bank credits, and instead relies on family resources for company financing. He speaks no English. Contact information: MUSIAD Konya Subesi, Havzan Mahallesi, Sapanca Sok. 1/A, Meram, Konya, Turkey 90-332-320-6500 ¶7. Ms. Fide Postaagasi is a young female entrepreneur in Kayseri. She owns a chain of restaurants named "Kasik-la" serving Kayseri specialties. She opened a branch of the restaurant in Istanbul. She also sells her products to Real Supermarket in Ankara. She is fluent in English and was educated in the U.S. Three years ago her mother was selected as the best female entrepreneur of the year in Kayseri. Her family owns iron mines, a mining company named Ozkoyuncu, and a Toyota dealership. Contact information: Kasik-la Restaurant, Anbar Mahallesi, Zafer Caddesi No. 4, Toyota Ustu, 38070 Kayseri, Turkey, 90-352-326-3075 ¶8. Mr. Ali Turktas is a young Konya businessman who owns gasoline stations. He is a former International Visitor Program participant. He created a web site for Turkish-U.S. friendship. He was Mainland Party (ANAP) Konya Youth Branch President. His wife is a deputy dean at Konya Selcuk University. Contact information: Bezirciler Alpet Petrol, Fatih Mahallesi, Yeni Istanbul Caddesi, Itfaiye Karsisi, No. 6, 42300 Selcuklu, Konya, Turkey, 90-332-320-7363, email: aliturktas at yahoo.com ¶9. We have several suggestions for possible cosponsors for funding the conference or related activities. These are the Bilkent Foundation, the Union of Chambers and Industries (TOBB),the Businessmen's and Industrialists' Association (TUSIAD),Independent Industrialists' and Businessmens' Association (MUSIAD),Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON),the Turkish-American Business Association (TABA),the Ankara Chamber of Commerce, and the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce. Endeavor is a private group which might also be a good cosponsor. Their website is www.endeavor.org. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey WILSON