Celal Kadooglu, President of the Southeastern Anatolia Cereals, Pulses, Oilseeds and Products Exporters’ Association, stated that the problems in the Iraqi economy have directed the sector to the Gulf market, and that they are trying to overcome the economic difficulties arising in the export markets by diversifying the market and establishing new commercial collaborations, especially with the Gulf countries.
According to the statement made by the union, the exports of the grain, pulses, oilseeds and their products sector from the Southeastern Anatolia Region increased to $3.5 billion in the 11 months of the year.
Grain producers, the only sector in Southeastern Anatolia that managed to increase its exports this year, maintained its regional leadership with a share of 30.6% across Turkiye.
The most exported products of the sector within the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters’ Association (GAIB) were pasta, wheat flour, vegetable oils and biscuits-cake.
Celal Kadooglu, President of the Southeastern Anatolia Cereals, Pulses, Oilseeds and Products Exporters’ Association, stated that although there was a 5.3% decrease in sectoral exports from the region to Iraq in the 11 months of the year, this country maintained its first place.
Stating that the problems in the Iraqi economy directed the sector towards the Gulf market, Kadooglu continued as follows:
“Since the ban on pastries and cake imports has been added to the restrictions imposed by Iraq on many products in our sector, the decline in our sectoral exports to this country from our region may continue for a while. We are trying to overcome the economic difficulties that arise in our export markets by diversifying our markets and establishing new commercial collaborations, especially with the Gulf countries. We consider it a success that we were able to increase our total exports on a quantitative basis after 11 months in which our income loss in Iraq reached over $50 million.”
“Our contacts in the Gulf yielded positive results”
Kadooglu emphasized that they have started to reap the fruits of their commercial contacts in the Middle Eastern countries, which hold the export leadership in the grains, pulses, oilseeds and products sector and have a 50% share in the total exports of the region.
Stating that they “shuttled back and forth” between Gaziantep and the Gulf countries this year, Kadooglu said:
“We had important meetings with the trade delegations of these countries, which have become regional economic powers. During the year, we made a trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates under the leadership of our President Recep Tayyip ErdoGan, and lastly, last month, we met with potential buyers from different countries of the world at the Private Label Middle East fair. These contacts seem to have yielded positive results. Our exports to Saudi Arabia increased by approximately 250% during this period. Since our trade with the region is still in its infancy, the return of this increase was $42 million, but the coming years promise much more for our country.”
Source: AA / Prepared by Irem Yildiz