In August 8-9, 2006, the third in a series of EU Leadership Seminars which support Turkey's priorities for convergence with the EU was held. The seminar, organized by the World Bank Institute (WBI) in close collaboration with the World Bank office in Ankara, and the State Planning Organization of Turkey, focused on providing guidance on restructuring the Iron and Steel Industry in Turkey, in support of Turkey's compliance with the EU acquis. The seminar was attended by 29 hand-picked professionals from several different government ministries and departments, who are directly involved in preparing and managing the country's restructuring plan (see attached list of attendees). 

The one and a half day seminar (see the attached  and opening remarks by Salih Kemal Kalyoncu, Acting Country Director, Turkey and Lystra N. Antoine, Regional Coordinator, Europe and central Asia), benefited from the expertise of the following (Please click the title in order to download the presentation):

• Mr. Jaraoslav Raab, Managing Director, Steel Federation of the Czech Republic
• Mr. Romauld Talarek, President of the Board, Polish Steel Association  
• Mr. Jacques Soenens, Associate Director, Euro Strategy Consultants
• Mr. Zunquing Yang, Deputy Secretary General, China Iron and Steel Association
• Mr. UÄŸur Türkmen, Investment Officer, International Finance Corporation (IFC)

The expert panel and the participants engaged in rich discussion and the experts provided direct feedback to Turkey's restructuring plan. Following the expert presentations on the first day, which included an assessment by IFC of the Turkish Iron and Steel industry and information on IFC's investments in the industry, Mr. Mehmet Bozkurt, Head of Section, Undersecretariat for Foreign Trade gave a presentation of their draft restructuring plan. This allowed the government to receive direct input from the expert panel, not only about the feasibility of the plan, but also the expectations of the EC for what the plan should contain. Discussion ranged from how to modernize the industry; the social costs of restructuring; EC assistance in restructuring and their expectation for monitoring the restructuring process; and the importance of an appropriate legal framework to facilitate restructuring of the industry.

 

Click here for the  Previous Seminar.