Press release…
The target of fresh fruit, vegetable and fruit and vegetable products sectors is the Balkans.
It is aimed to export 100 million dollars in fresh fruit, vegetable and products to North Macedonia and Kosovo.
The Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association (EYMSİB), which broke records in exports during the pandemic period, took action to increase its exports to the Balkan countries.
Organized a ‘Business Trip’ to North Macedonia before the pandemic, the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association, met with Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, North Macedonian Chamber of Commerce Chairperson Branko Azeski, North Macedonia Foreign Investments Minister Zorica Apostolska, Agriculture Minister Trajan Dimkosvki, hosted the importers from North Macedonia and Kosovo in Izmir.
Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association Chairperson Hayrettin Uçak, who came together with businessperson Azem Ismaili from North Macedonia and Alban Shala, businessperson from Kosovo, said that there is a great sympathy for Turkish products in North Macedonia and Kosovo, He also stated that their products are especially preferred and sought after in the markets and that the exports of our fresh fruit, vegetable and fruit and vegetable products sectors to these countries are constantly increasing.
Pointing out that the historical ties between North Macedonia, Kosovo and Turkey paved the way for the development of trade between the countries, Uçak said, “Our exports to North Macedonia and Kosovo, which were 17.5 million dollars in 2016, reached 29 million dollars at the end of 2020. We have increased our exports to two countries by 79 percent in 5 years. While citrus products took the first place in our exports to North Macedonia, water and tomatoes came to the fore in exports to Kosovo. In the coming period, we aim to reach the level of 100 million dollars in exports to these countries.”
While Turkey exported 13 million 216 thousand dollars of fresh fruit, vegetable and fruit and vegetable products to North Macedonia in 2020, mostly consisted of fresh fruit and vegetable products with 12.2 million dollars. As for Kosovo; An export level of 17.5 million dollars was reached, with 9.7 million dollars of fruit and vegetables and 7.9 million dollars of fruit and vegetable products.