VZCZCXRO7939
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHIT #0555 1790616
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 280616Z JUN 07
FM AMCONSUL ISTANBUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7211
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA PRIORITY 2318
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS ISTANBUL 000555 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EEB/MERMOUD 
COMMERCE FOR 4200/ITA/MAC/EUR/CRUSNICK 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EINV BEXP TU
SUBJECT: ISTANBUL TO HOST TOP NAMES IN GLOBAL COMMERCE 
 
REF: ANKARA 1567 
 
¶1.  An increasingly popular venue for international 
congresses and conventions, Istanbul will host the World 
Chambers Federation (WCF) Fifth World Chambers Congress in 
Istanbul on July 4-6.  Istanbul competed with Monaco and 
Bratislava to host the event.  Prime Minister Erdogan will 
open the event, which will feature prominent speakers 
including former Secretary of State Albright, 2006 Nobel 
laureate and Grameen Bank Chairman Muhammad Yunus and 
Coca-Cola President and COO Muhtar Kent.  Delegations will 
pay visits to business establishments in Gebze and Istanbul, 
and conference organizers are arranging a comprehensive 
schedule of one-on-one meetings for participating companies. 
 
¶2.  Over 1,000 businessmen are expected to attend the 
congress, which will be sponsored by the Turkish Union of 
Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB).  According to TOBB 
President Rifat Hisarciklioglu the congress will host the 
presidents of 1,500 chambers and commodities exchanges from 
140 countries, as well as Turkish business leaders.  Noting 
that a strong presence in international events has an 
enormous impact on business life, Hisarciklioglu said the 
congress would be a meeting point for Turkish business and 
the leading names in the world economy.  Arguing the meeting 
will contribute to the rapid implementation of cooperative 
projects, Hisarciklioglu added:  "The Fifth World Chambers 
Congress offers the participants a unique opportunity to make 
new contacts and exchange experiences and ideas.  It will be 
a significant event with its rich program, broad cooperation 
and information exchange." 
 
¶3.  The convention will host panel discussions and seminars 
covering the latest developments in the business world, 
propose solutions for current problems and predict challenges 
for the businessman of the future.  Session will address 
topics including the management of global risk, economic 
restructuring, governance in global economies, 
migration/immigration, energy security and threats to 
multilateral trade.  Conference speakers will include: 
International Finance Corporation Vice President and CEO Lars 
Thunell, International Chamber of Commerce Chairman and LM 
Ericsson Vice Chairman Marcus Wallanberg, Eurochambers 
President Pierre Simon, First Eastern Investment Group 
Chairman and CEO Victor Chu, Bridas Corp. Chairman Carlos 
Bulgheroni and ICC Vice Chairman Victor Fung. 
JONES