Call from TGDF to Citizens Ahead of Ramadan

Turkchem 09 May 2018 57 2 dk okuma

TURKCHEM

İlknur Menlik, General Secretary of TGDF, reported that the food sector is ready for Ramadan and called on consumers to "not rely on counterfeit products."

Noting that TÜİK's inflation data shows a decline in food prices, Menlik said, "The data showed that the food sector does not see Ramadan as an opportunity and is not a 'Ramadan profiteer.'"

İlknur Menlik, General Secretary of the Federation of Turkish Food and Beverage Industries Associations (TGDF), the largest civil society organization in the food sector and umbrella for 27 sectoral member associations representing 2,000 companies operating in the food and beverage industry, shared developments in the food sector at a press conference held ahead of Ramadan,

and issued warnings to consumers for Ramadan.

Sector's Three-Month Trade Surplus Reaches TRY 1.5 Billion

Sharing some data reflecting developments in Turkey's food and beverage industry at the press conference, Menlik said that the food sector exported USD 11.9 billion against food and beverage imports of USD 5.9 billion in 2017.

Pointing out that the sector recorded a trade surplus of USD 6 billion last year, Menlik continued: "The March 2018 foreign trade statistics announced by the Turkish Statistical Institute on 30 April showed that the food sector continues this success in 2018 as well.

In the first quarter covering January, February and March 2018, our food and beverage exports reached USD 2,791,756 thousand, while food and beverage imports amounted to USD 1,250,655 thousand. Thus our sector generated a trade surplus of USD 1,541,101 thousand in the first three months of the year.

The figures show that, barring any major adverse developments at home or abroad, we will match and even exceed last year's approximately USD 12 billion in food and beverage exports."

Menlik emphasized that according to 2015 data most recently announced by TÜİK, 485,340 people were employed in 42,520 enterprises operating in the food and beverage industry.

"Food Sector Ready for Ramadan"

Emphasizing that, as with every Ramadan, questions are being asked before this Ramadan as well about "What will happen to food prices, will food prices increase?", TGDF General Secretary İlknur Menlik noted that Ramadan is a period in which changes occur in food and beverage purchases due both to changes in dietary patterns and rich iftar tables where hosting guests continues as a tradition.

Menlik said, "As a sector, we are ready for Ramadan. During Ramadan and afterwards during the holiday, our consumers will not face any shortage of any food product."