WASHINGTON D.C - The meeting was headed by the President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Mr. M. Rifat Hisarciklioglu who is also the Chairman of the Ankara Forum. Vice-Chairmen, Mr. Ahmed Hashem Al-Zughair, the President of the Federation of Palestinian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture and Mr. Shraga Brosh, the President of the Manufacturers' Association of Israel were also among the speakers of this event. Republican Congressman from Illinois, Honorable Mark Steven Kirk, from the US House of Representatives made a speech at the end of the Forum outlining the importance  of the TOBB-BIS Initiative and his support for the successful implementation of it.