For more information, please contact the U.S.-Turkey Business Council team.

Consultation with Turkish Government on Draft Competition Law Amendments

The U.S. Chamber's U.S.-Turkey Business Council Digital Economy Advisory Board joined consultations on the Law on the Protection of Competition held under the auspices of Deputy Minister of Trade, Rıza Tuna Turagay, in Ankara. Members conveyed their position and concerns about the draft law.

On November 1, the Digital Advisory Board convened virtually to discuss the disinformation law, competition law, and e-commerce law. Recently, the Turkish Competition Authority shared a Draft Amendment Bill ("Draft Bill") on Law No. 4054 on the Protection of Competition ("Law No. 4054") with various institutions for consultation. The Chamber's U.S.-Turkey Business Council's Digital Economy Advisory Board will submit comments about the Turkiye's new draft Law Amending the Law on the Protection of Competition in Turkiye (in Turkish). Member companies who have not submitted comments, please send to the U.S.-Turkey Business Council team as soon as possible.

On November 9, the U.S.-Turkey Business Council will hold consultations in Washington together with the Turkish Ambassador. For more information, please contact the U.S.-Turkey Business Council team.

• November 9: U.S.-Turkey Digital Economy Advisory Board Meeting with Ambassador Mercan in Washington
• November 15: Defense and Aerospace Working Group Virtual Meeting
• November TBD: Health Working Group Workshop with Ambassador Mercan

Please feel free to reach out to the U.S.-Turkey Business Council with any questions

Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes Elizabeth Rosenberg traveled to Ankara and Istanbul, Türkiye on Monday, October 17 through Wednesday, October 19. She met with government counterparts, including those from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as representatives from the private financial and commercial sectors, academics, and members of civil society.

During her meetings, Assistant Secretary Rosenberg covered a range of topics, including the sanctions and export controls imposed on Russia by a broad coalition of over 30 countries, energy security, anti-money laundering policy, and countering the financing of terrorism. These meetings affirmed the importance of close partnership between the United States and Türkiye in addressing the risks caused by sanctions evasion and other illicit financial activities. In a simultaneous series of technical dialogues, staff from the Treasury and State Departments engaged with Turkish compliance officials, financial professionals, and government counterparts.

The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) hosted a sanctions briefing with U.S. Treasury and OFAC officials. Please find the presentation and readout from the meeting here.

Toledo Solar and KordSA Announce Collaborative Partnership

Cision | October 18, 2022

Toledo Solar Inc, a leading American manufacturer of the world's most powerful, innovative, and durable solar panels and glass, and KordSA, a global leader in large scale, advanced material manufacturing with a proven track record in operational excellence and leadership in ESG, today announced a collaborative partnership and strategic alliance to bring Toledo Solar's best of breed, thin film solar technology to Europe and Central Asia.

This renewable energy partnership between TSI and KordSA is a response to the immediate political and economic realities globally. Combined with urgent global climate concerns and long-term sustainability initiatives, European government leaders, company executives, and ordinary citizens are rapidly scaling up investments in expanded solar solutions. KordSA, a division of Sabanci Holding Group, has invested in Toledo Solar and licensed rights to open Toledo Solar factories across the European continent and Central Asia, starting with Turkey and Central Europe.

"KordSA is deeply committed to a sustainable life and actively pursues opportunities in the area of equipment for climate technologies. We have seen that Toledo Solar's management philosophy and technology is a great fit to KordSA's. We look forward to executing the plans which will be built through this strategic alliance." said Ibrahim Ozgur Yildirim, CEO of KordSA.

The superior power per square meter output, industry leading low carbon footprint, and recyclability of Toledo Solar's frameless, all-glass, thin film, and ultra-durable solar modules make them an ideal solution for the rooftops of Europe's homes, businesses, and factories. With this new collaborative partnership, Toledo Solar and KordSA will work together to build Gigawatts (GWs) of capacity and expand the technology's adoption beyond the rooftop to European sized solar farms (5 to 50 MW) and the rapidly growing energy sectors of floating solar, Building solar (BIPV), Automotive (AIPV), and Agricultural (AgriPV).

"We are thrilled to announce our partnership with KordSA. Their demonstrated expertise in setting and maintaining the highest standards of operational excellence, human resource development and environmental stewardship while rapidly scaling factory deployments globally is unparalleled. This strategic partnership will provide a meaningful contribution to Europe's drive to achieve greater energy independence and resilience," said Aaron Bates, Chairman and CEO of Toledo Solar Inc. "We look forward to working collaboratively and strategically with KordSA and SGH to enhance Europe and Central Asia's solar power capacity and energy independence in a responsible way. For too long the world has relied upon adversarial countries to meet rising energy demands. Our partnership is the beginning of a future for energy independence of nations across the globe."

Tayga Kaan Hilal Appointed Country Manager of Viatris Türkiye

Viatris announced the appointment of Tayga Kaan Hilal as Country Manager in Türkiye. Tayga Kaan Hilal will manage Viatris’ commercial operations in Türkiye in his new role.

Kaan Hilal, who has previously worked in key leadership roles in the field of business and treatment in many geographies, has a wealth of experience as a senior executive in the pharmaceutical industry. In his most recent role as Head of Sales Excellence and Commercial Capabilities, Kaan Hilal managed Viatris’ Sales Excellence, Talent Development and Training Organization in Emerging Markets.

In his career spanning over 15 years, Tayga Kaan Hilal has undertaken local key roles in marketing, sales, business development and commercial operations in Pfizer Turkey, Pfizer Russia, and regional key roles in Europe, AfME and Emerging Markets. Tayga has previously managed Commercial Operations and Business Analytics departments for Turkey, Africa and the Middle East.

Viatris Türkiye

Viatris’ local footprint in Türkiye includes a workforce of more than 500 and a manufacturing facility that produces high-quality medicines for Viatris’ portfolios in Cardiology, Urology, Pain and Mental Health. In addition, Viatris Türkiye is part of Viatris, a global pharmaceutical company that bridges the gap between generic drugs and brands. Viatris and Viatris Türkiye are described as a pharmaceutical company uniquely positioned to fulfill its mission of empowering people all over the world to live healthier lives at every stage of life, regardless of geography or conditions.

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