The Closest Turk to be at the Biden Administration

It makes us proud to see successful Turks in the international arena. One of these success stories is Fatih Birol, Director of the France-based International Energy Agency. Founded in 1974, the agency is a well-established institution that shapes the world's energy policies. Climate change is among the three issues that President Biden gives utmost importance at the White House.

Fatih Birol spoke at the US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources last week.

 Stressing that energy and climate are extremely interdependent in his speech, Birol made suggestions to the US leadership in his speech. After his speech at the Senate, I had an opportunity to have a private conversation with Fatih Birol. Here are the essential notes from the conversation:

- We will work closely with the Biden administration,

- US decisions on energy and climate will affect the economy. This is very important for Turkey and other countries as well,

- We need a global effort and investments in clean energy transformation to reduce emissions,

- If Trump were elected, we would see poor results,

- The number of electric vehicles will increase,

- The importance of wind energy is increasing,

- Countries in the Middle East can suffer from social and economic turmoil. Because the demand for oil will decrease.

- Energy is the sector most affected by Covid-19. 5 million people have lost their jobs. Vaccination is essential for the recovery of this sector, but the process can extend to 2023.

- Turkey can be a pioneer in the Caucasus and the Middle East in renewable energy technologies,

- The natural gas sources in the Black Sea have great importance. Turkey needs to make use of the opportunities.

In addition,  IEA Deputy Executive Director Dave Turk who closely worked with Mr. Fatih Birol  recently appointed a  Deputy Secretary of Energy.

Turkish Auto Supplier Is Establishing Its First U.S. Headquarters in Georgia

A manufacturer of automotive fluid circulation systems will establish its North American headquarters and a new manufacturing facility in Northwest Georgia, state officials announced. Teklas expects to invest $6.5 million in a vacant textile factory in Calhoun, Georgia, and create 120 new jobs. The Turkish company supplies components for heating and cooling systems — including metal, plastic, and rubber hoses and pipes — to automakers worldwide. The debut U.S. facility will join existing operations in Europe, China, and Mexico.

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New York Turkish Apparel Center (TAC) Is Aspiring to Be The New Marketplace for U.S. Buyer

Turkish Apparel Center (TAC), where Turkish apparel and fashion manufacturer / exporter companies have showrooms, will show their new design and collections at TAC Premises in New York, with an exclusive three days fashion business networking event between and a welcome cocktail for the press and its customers due September 25th, starting at 1pm.

Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya Considers Going Public

by  Lillie Apostolos - In an industry that is constantly seeing quick movements and strategic approaches to business handlings, it appears that we could be seeing a change in Chobani in the future after the company’s Founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya sat down in discussion with Recode. The businessman shared that he isn’t against taking the yogurt company public, but has no interest in selling it off to a food conglomerate. “What happens is all these little brands, these good brands, as they grow, because of the financial structure, 99 percent of them become part of larger organizations,” he said while speaking at Code Commerce conference in New York City. “When they become part of a larger organization, it’s the end of their promise.”

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Turkey to Open Anti-dumping Probes into U.S. Companies: Minister

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey will open anti-dumping investigations into U.S. companies in the wake of new U.S. import tariffs on steel and aluminum, Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci was cited as saying by the private Dogan news agency.  “However the USA looks at our products, we will look at their products in the same way. We will launch important processes within a few days,” Zeybekci was quoted as telling reporters in the town of Denizli on Thursday.

Metal Yapı in American Market

Turkey’s Metal Yapı, the firm that has run many prestigious projects in different countries of the world, such as the Qatar National Convention Center, Esenboğa Airport of Ankara, Hotel Chandebyl of Turkmenistan, London’s luxurious residential project of Shoreditch, Hotel de Police of Paris, and the headquarters of French newspaper Le Monde, has now been on a search for a new project in the American market. Also having been handling the exterior construction of several commercial and residential buildings in Turkey, the Metal Yapı entered the American market in 2013 by selling materials. Its executives have now decided to remain in this market. And, as someone with 22 years of experience in the firm, Zuhal Özgül has taken the role to run the operations of the firm in the USA.

Young, Ambitious, Idealistic and Now Developers

One of the other young Turkish entraprenaurs who have specialized in investments in real estate property is Can Tavşanoğlu,  one of the founding partners of Caldera Real Estate Ventures (CREV).  CREV was co-founded by Can Tavşanoğlu in New York in May of 2017. A business person who have handled real estate development projects worth of $1.5bn and had experience in creating an institutional investment fund of $3bn, Tavşanoğlu is also a graduate of Columbia University’s graduate program of Real Estate Investment and Development. Promising investors optimum profit in short and long term with its creative partnership agreements and expert techniques of project development, Caldera works on exciting residential and commercial projects in New York and Miami.

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Trendspotters’ Predictions for the top 10 Food Trends of 2018

Food & Beverage industry is always on the look out for new trends and one of the best sources for this kind of trend spotting is Specialty Food Association shows and publications. I am personally a fan of Middle Eastern food so it was fun to see that it made the list. Every year Specialty Food Associations panel "TRENDSPOTERS" pick top trends in USA. Here is the list and info regarding upcoming trends that we will experience.

WeWork buys Lord & Taylor flagship for $850M for new world headquarters

Facing mounting pressure to shed its real estate assets, Hudson’s Bay Company is selling Lord & Taylor’s flagship store to WeWork and its partner for $850 million. WeWork Property Advisors — a joint venture with Rhône Capital, who is making a $500 million equity investment in HBC as part of the deal — is purchasing the 676,000-square-foot landmark building for WeWork’s new global headquarters, the New York Times reported. The Real Deal first reported that WeWork and Rhone were raising several hundred million dollars for a real estate investment fund.

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Nearly $17B in EB-5 Funds Are Ready for Redeployment

A 10-year backlog in EB-5 applications has a silver lining: $16.6 billion that investors can reinvest in real estate or other businesses if they still want a green card. The origin of the money is a unique problem with the EB-5 program, in which investors can invest $500,000 in a U.S. business in exchange for a green card. But the program requires investors’ money to be “at risk” pending the outcome of the application. Since the U.S. only hands out 10,000 EB-5 visas a year, a years-long backlog means some developers want to return investors’ money before they obtain the green card.

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