While the majority of export sectors updated their 2023 export targets downwards, the Turkish aquaculture and animal products sector increased by $1 billion by revising it upwards.
Expressing that they achieved the $2.5 billion export target set for 2023 three years ago, Aegean Fisheries and Animal Products Exporters’ Association President Bedri Girit noted that they have increased their 2023 export target to $3.5 billion. Speaking at the Financial General Assembly of the Aegean Fisheries and Animal Products Exporters’ Association, Girit explained that as exporters, they not only bring foreign currency to Turkey, but also contribute to Turkey’s international relations with the friendships they have established. Pointing out that as the seafood and animal products sector, they offer three meals a day to humanity, Girit said, “We offer eggs, honey and dairy products for breakfast, chicken for lunch and fish for dinner. That’s why we were less affected by the pandemic process than other sectors. In 2020, we exported $2 billion 450 million. With the increase in exports we will realize in 2021, 2022 and 2023, we will reach an export figure of $3.5 billion.”
TURKISH CUISINE WILL BE TAUGHT AS A COURSE IN AMERICA
Girit also mentioned that with the support of the Ministry of Commerce, the food associations within the body of Aegean Exporters’ Association implemented the TURQUALITY Project to increase the export of Turkish food products in the US market. Within the scope of the project, they introduced Turkish delicacies, including Turkish seafood, to US chefs and buyers with tasting events, Turkish cuisine was included in the curriculum at Las Vegas University for 5 years. He added that the chefs studying at the university will graduate by learning Turkish tastes and will include them in their menus in their professional lives, so that they aim to increase the export of Turkish food products to the USA exponentially.
ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD CEREMONY
Aegean Fisheries and Animal Products Exporters’ Association supported the sustainability-oriented works of Aegean Exporters’ Associations with a green award ceremony. The Association gave the awards of its 15 members, who realized 78% of the $983 million export realized in 2020, in the form of sapling certificates. A grove was created in Kinik with 1,800 saplings donated on behalf of 15 companies.
The sapling certificates of the companies that contributed $765 million to the exports of the Aegean Region were distributed at the ceremony held at the General Assembly of the Aegean Fisheries and Animal Products Exporters’ Association, organized by the Aegean Exporters’ Associations.
15 COMPANIES WITH THE MOST EXPORTS
In the Aegean Fisheries and Animal Products Exporters’ Association, the 15 companies that exported the most in 2020 were listed as follows; “KLC Food Products ITH. EXPORT and TRADE INC., Gumusdoga Aquaculture Production Export and Import Joint Stock Company, Agromey Foreign Trade Joint Stock Company, Yasar Foreign Trade Inc., Sursan Water Products Industry and Trade Joint Stock Company, Noordzee Aquaculture IHR SAN ve TIC.A.S, Abalioglu Lezita Food Industry Joint Stock Company, Kopuzmar Aquaculture Industry. and FOREIGN TRADE. INC., Ilknak Su UR. Trade. and TIC. A.S, Tumay Fishing Food Foreign Trade Industry Joint Stock Company, Milk Academy Food Industry and Trade Limited Company, Defne Water Products Industry and Trade Joint Stock Company, Tumay Sea Food Export Import Foreign Trade Industry and Trade Joint Stock Company, Gedik Poultry and Agriculture Products Trade Industry Joint Stock Company, RDM Domestic and Foreign Trade Representation Limited Company.”
Source: Sabah / Translated by Irem Yildiz