Under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade, in coordination of Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) and within the organization of Aegean Exporters’ Associations a virtual and sectoral food products trade mission was accomplished to United Arab Emirates (UAE), one of the world’s most important re-export and logistics centres on 7-9 July.
Stating that the UAE is the most dynamic market in the Gulf, Aegean Exporters’ Associations Coordinator Chairman Jak Eskinazi also mentioned that UAE is one of the most politically and economically stable and secure countries in Middle East.
Eskinazi explained, “Dubai, which is the third most important trade-re-export centre of the world and the region, is a door opening from the Gulf Region to the Far East and Africa. It is a trade center where other countries in the region also provide significant goods and services. UAE has 20 billion dollars of food products imports annually. It meets 90 percent of its food needs through imports. The potential for agriculture is 1.75 billion dollars. Our market share is 5. 5 percent with 87 million dollars. We have a bilateral trade that is developing and increasing every year. It is an important advantage for us that they prefer halal food products.”
Indicating that potential products; chicken meat, fresh vegetable fruits, especially citrus fruits, confectionery products, chocolates, pastry products, Eskinazi noted, “We have a total of 260 million dollars of food exports last year including mineral waters with 18 million dollars, cocoa products with 12 million dollars and eggs, bream with 9 million dollars and chocolate with 8 million dollars.”
Pointing out that as the first Association that started the digital transformation by first virtual exhibition inn Turkey, Eskinazi added, “We carried our experience we have had in the food sector to the online platform. On July 7-9, we organized a virtual trade delegation to meet potential food buyers in UAE and our food exporters. 22 companies from fresh fruits, vegetables, dried fruits, olives-olive oil, canned products, seafood, cheese, water and carbonated drinks and spice sectors held approximately 200 interviews with over 50 buyers in digital environment. We will continue to bring our companies together with new buyers in a hinterland extending from the Middle East and Africa to South Asia.”
“The pandemic signaled the countries that they should become self-sufficient in the production process, give importance to R&D, innovation and create added value. We need to be all over the game to follow the world trends and be in a trend setting position,” Eskinazi concluded…