The Second National Insurance Symposium of the Association, entitled “Global Insurance Markets and the Competitiveness of the Turkish Insurance Sector” was held on 16 May 2006

The Second National Insurance Symposium of the Association, entitled “Global Insurance Markets and the Competitiveness of the Turkish Insurance Sector” was held on 16 May 2006 in Lutfi Kirdar Convention & Exhibition Center with the participation of 400 people, including bureaucrats, academicians, journalists and sector representatives.

The opening speaches of the Symposium were made by the President of the Association, Mr. Hulusi Taşkıran and the Deputy Undersecretary of Treasury, Mr. Burhanettin Aktaş.

In the first session of the Symposium, entitled “the Competitiveness of the Turkish Insurance Sector and the Problems of Competitiveness in Global Insurance Markets”, the General Director of Anadolu Sigorta Mr. Mustafa Su, Deputy Secretary General of the Association Prof. Suna Oksay, the Vice-President of the Turkish Competition Authority Mr. İsmail Hakkı Karakelle, the former director of the European Commission DG Competition Mr. Luc Gyselen and the partner of Van Bael&Bellis Mr. Andrzej Kmiecik made presentations.

During the seminar, distinguished speakers and leading experts made speeches in parallel sessions on the measures for enhancing competitiveness in the insurance sector in the fields of liability insurance, life insurance and health insurance; the role of intermediaries and other actors in enhancing competition in the sector.
 

The Association has held Its Nineth Insurance Training Seminar at Uludag University, Vocational School of Social Sciences on 2 May 2006

In the process of the Turkish insurance sector's harmonization with the European Union, the Association, within the scope of the training activities which it has performed to increase the insurance awareness in public, continues to arrange training seminars. The seminars were first launched in May 2005 in insurance vocational schools and colleges providing insurance training. The ninth insurance seminar has been held at Uludag University, Vocational School of Social Sciences on 2 May 2006.

Prior to the seminar, the students were provided with booklets prepared by the Association, enshrining all the presentations to be made during the seminar.

The seminar commenced with the opening speech of the Head of the Insurance Education Programme. During the seminar, presentations were made on the “Institutions of the Turkish Insurance Sector and TSRSB”, “The Structure and Evaluation of the Turkish Insurance Sector”, “EU Institutions and the Single Insurance Market”, “Life Insurance Products and Private Pension System”.
 

The Association has held Its Tenth Insurance Training Seminar at Gaziantep University Vocational School on 26 May 2006

The Association, within the scope of the training activities which it has performed to increase the insurance awareness in public, has organized the tenth insurance seminar at Gaziantep University Vocational School on 26 May 2006, with the participation of 100 students.

Prior to the seminar entitled “the Structure of the Turkish Insurance Sector and the EU Single Insurance Market”, the students were provided with booklets prepared by the Association, enshrining all the presentations to be made during the seminar.

The seminar commenced with opening speech of the Director of the School Assoc. Dr. Savaş Uçkun. During the seminar, presentations were made on the “The Structure and Evaluation of the Turkish Insurance Sector”, “Institutions of the Turkish Insurance Sector and TSRSB”, “EU Institutions” and “European Single Insurance Market”.
 

The Association has organized an “Insurance English Education Program”

The Association has organized an “Insurance English Education Program” for the employees of the Turkish insurance sector between 29 May-2 June 2006 in Dedeman Hotel, Istanbul. The Education Program has been prepared by Communicaid Global Communication in cooperation with the Chartered Insurance Institute.

During the five day education programme, two different lecturers gave lessons on insurance terminology and discussion, presentation and writing skills in English.
 

The Association has paid study visits to the Irish Insurance Federation (IIF) and the Association of British Insurers (ABI)

As the representative of the entire insurance sector in Turkey, the Association attaches utmost importance to establishing a steady and functioning dialogue platform with other national associations in the Single European Insurance Market.

Within this context, the Association has paid study visits to the Irish Insurance Federation (IIF) on 19 May 2006 and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) on 22 May 2006.

During the meetings, the Association, its structure and functioning mechanism were introduced, ideas and experiences were exchanged on various issues including how these associations and insurance markets conduct relations with the European Union and how they cope with the challenges of the single insurance market. The possibilities of future collaboration in various fields, mortgage related insurance products and insurance intermediaries were among the other important subjects discussed during the meetings.

Furthermore, another meeting has been organized with ABI on fiscal and financial regulations. Solvency II, IFRS on insurance and insurance taxes have been discussed during the meeting.

The Association has been invited for a study visit by the Association of Austrian Insurance Companies (VVO)

The Association, during the EU presidency of Austria, has been invited to a study visit to Vienna on 2 May 2006 by the Association of Austrian Insurance Companies (VVO).

During the meeting with senior officials from VVO, the Association, its structure and functioning mechanism and principal indicators of Turkish Insurance Industry were introduced by the EU, Legislation and Projects Unit of the Association. The VVO has also made a presentation on its structure and activities and its position in the European Single Insurance Market.

The possibilities of future collaboration and joint activities between the two Associations have also been discussed during the meeting.