EİB Targets 'Golden Year' in Exports

Aegean Exporters Associations convened to evaluate 2021 export performance and stated they will do their part to make 2022 a 'Golden Year' as well. The Aegean Exporters Associations convened to evaluate their 2021 export performance. The associations increased exports by 26 percent in 2021, reaching USD 16.325 billion. Of the 12 exporter associations, 11 increased their exports compared to 2020, while one association fell short of its previous year's performance. At this meeting, they stated their aim to increase exports in 2022 and work to make it a 'Golden Year'.

Aegean Exporters Associations Targets Sustaining 2021 Success

At the Aegean Exporters Associations meeting, 2021 was evaluated and targets for 2022 were shared. Aegean Exporters Associations Coordinator Chairman Jak Eskinazi made statements at the meeting. Sharing figures for 2021, Eskinazi emphasized that they will work to make 2022 a 'Golden Year' and will sustain the success achieved in 2021. Jak Eskinazi shared the figures for 2021. Eskinazi stated: "In 2021, when Turkey achieved USD 225 billion in exports and surpassed the 2023 target set in the Medium-Term Economic Program; the Aegean Region's exports increased by 29 percent to USD 28.158 billion. Over 10,000 of our companies contributed to this export figure from the Aegean Region. The number of companies exporting through the Aegean Exporters Associations increased to 6,644 in 2021. We gained 1,489 new members to the Aegean Exporters Associations in 2021."

Emphasis on Sustainability

Eskinazi noted that exports were made to 211 countries and customs zones and mentioned that Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom were the top three export destinations. Eskinazi emphasized that 2021 was a golden year in exports. Eskinazi stated: "We are making a great effort behind the scenes to ensure that our exports come from sustainable sources. We manage many processes from corporate sustainability to sectoral field work, from human resources sustainability to supporting our companies with Sustainability Urgency projects. Our companies must now prioritize projects related to 'Sustainability'. The financial sector has decided to allocate resources to companies implementing sustainable projects. Our companies will face obstacles in accessing finance if they do not work on sustainability-themed initiatives."

According to McKinsey Report, Strong Shift Towards Turkey

Eskinazi also commented on the McKinsey December 2021 report. Noting that thanks to the primary market of the European Union preferring to purchase from nearby geography, significant increases were seen in orders in 2021, Eskinazi said: "In McKinsey's December 2021 report, it is noted that among European companies, interest in near-shoring is showing itself with a strong shift towards Turkey. If Turkey's circumstances and economic conditions permit, this trend will continue in 2022."

"We Exporters are Ready to Do Our Part"

Eskinazi stated: "The course of the pandemic stands before us as another unknown factor regarding our exports. Obstacles to Turkish exporters' access to financing must be removed. The Central Bank needs to clear the bottleneck in its Rediscount Credits. Exports are the only branch our Turkish economy is holding on to. To sustain the success of 2021 in 2022 and to make 2022 a 'Golden Year' as well, we exporters are ready to do our part. For this, the currency-interest-inflation trinity must not hinder us. We must emphasize that high inflation is the biggest problem facing the Turkish economy. If we cannot reduce inflation, we cannot achieve stability in currency and interest rates."