Aegean Exporters' Associations to Export to 214 Destinations

Ege Exporters Associations exported to 214 destinations, including free zones, during January-August, generating USD 8.078 billion for Turkey. Ege Exporters Associations Coordinator Chairman Jak Eskinazi said that despite the adverse conditions in global trade, the Ege Exporters Associations managed to increase exports to 92 countries during the January-August period. "The top 10 countries by export value are: Germany with USD 897 million, USA with USD 591 million, UK with USD 488 million, Spain with USD 407 million, Netherlands with USD 402 million, Italy with USD 439 million, France with USD 333 million, Russia with USD 219 million, Israel with USD 209 million, China with USD 182 million. Exports to EU member states totalled USD 4.489 billion in the January-August period of 2019, while in the same period of 2020 this figure reached USD 4.122 billion. The EU's share in EEA's total exports was recorded at 51.03%. USD 1.119 billion of products were sold to Middle Eastern countries, USD 830 million to the Americas, USD 654 million to African countries, USD 560 million to Asian countries, USD 427 million to Eastern Bloc countries, USD 140 million to Free Zones, USD 123 million to Turkic Republics, and USD 102 million to other European countries. The figures show that the effects of the pandemic have remained limited in our region.

Turkey's exports declined by 12.6% in the first 8 months, while EEA exports fell by 6.4%. We will see even higher figures in the remaining four months of the year."

Eskinazi stated: "In the first 8 months, our trade with African countries, the fourth largest country group by export value, showed a 13% increase. Exports to Madagascar increased by 221%, Mali by 212%, Congo and Côte d'Ivoire by 157%, Zambia by 129%, Djibouti by 87%, Somalia by 56%, Ethiopia by 39%. Other notable export increases include: Haiti with 691%, Myanmar with 103%, Syria with 81%, Oman with 64%, Philippines with 59%, Libya with 42%. Export figures from both our agricultural and industrial sectors, production indices and PMI indices all indicate that our sectors are recovering rapidly. Supply chains in various industries have begun to be restructured. There are possibilities that multinational companies may relocate their production facilities from China to other geographies. The world is seeking new alternatives. Everyone has seen the risks and difficulties of relying on a single country. Quality product range, human resources, production base, our position as a gateway between East and West, and logistical advantages distinguish Turkey."

Jak Eskinazi, commenting on global economic developments, holds the view that even in the most optimistic scenario, post-pandemic recovery in the world could take 1.5-2 years.

"As we approach the completion of the first quarter of the 21st century, we are going through a phase that will fundamentally change many balances over the coming century—from international relations to economics, from trade to ways of doing business. States that lag behind the times will not only fail to develop and lack a say in global governance, but will also be unable to withstand competition. Traditional methods are rapidly losing the marathon. According to some, the pandemic was a serious crisis. For us, it was a creative disruption. The number one agenda item of the process showed that we demonstrated a quick response in the transition to digitalization. Work on our other agenda item—the low-carbon economy—has been ongoing for a long time. If we analyze the long-term effects of these developments in the global system and implement intelligent and comprehensive policies, we can seize the opportunity to strengthen our production network and further expand our export reach."