TİM Opens Its First Overseas Representative Office

Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) has signed a landmark agreement to expand the export ecosystem. TİM has opened its first Overseas Representative Office in Nicosia in cooperation with the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry (KTSO) to transfer its experience in innovation, entrepreneurship and global trade, and to carry out joint training activities.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, TİM President İsmail Gülle said, "From foreign trade regulatory infrastructure to market entry strategies, from access to financing models to innovation, research and development, digital transformation, e-exports and entrepreneurship initiatives, we will transfer the 83-year export experience of the Turkish Exporters Assembly and Exporter Unions to Northern Cyprus."

With 61 exporter unions representing 27 sectors and 90,000 exporters covering 85,000 goods and 5,000 services, the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), the single umbrella organization for exports in Turkey, continues its efforts to develop exports. Within the framework of the cooperation agreement signed by TİM with the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry (KTSO) for the development of TRNC exports, the TİM TRNC Office has begun operations within KTSO in Nicosia. The opening of the TİM TRNC Office and the signing ceremony of the Cooperation Protocol between TİM and the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry were attended by the Minister of Economy and Energy of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Hasan Taçoy, Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry President Candan Avunduk, TİM President İsmail Gülle, Exporter Union Presidents and numerous industrialists and exporters from the Northern Cyprus business world.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, TİM President İsmail Gülle said they have signed a vital initiative to develop regional trade between the two sister nations.

İsmail Gülle, stating that they will transfer the 83-year export experience of the Turkish Exporters Assembly and Exporter Unions to Cyprus under the roof of the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry, said, "From foreign trade regulatory infrastructure to market entry strategies, from access to financing models to innovation, research and development, digital transformation, e-exports and entrepreneurship initiatives – we are here to take the know-how we have accumulated to our Cypriot kinfolk and business community to new heights. We will advance trade between the two sister nations further, deepen our relations with the Cyprus Turkish industry and business community, move beyond changing conditions according to market dynamics, and together walk toward sustainable futures in production, industry and cross-border trade," he expressed. Providing information about the activities of the TİM TRNC Office, Gülle reminded that the only way to achieve Turkey's foreign trade surplus target is to develop the innovation, research and development, technology transfer, branding and entrepreneurship ecosystem, that is, to produce high value-added products, and stated: "In this respect, we are launching our İnoSuit – Innovation-Focused Mentoring Program, which we have successfully conducted for 4 years, at the TİM TRNC Office in partnership with KTSO. With TEB's support in these activities, we have been working for 5 years to spread the entrepreneurship ecosystem throughout Turkey. To date, we have trained more than 900 entrepreneurs in our TİM-TEB Enterprise Houses in 10 provinces. We are ready to transfer all this experience here for the creation of this ecosystem in Cyprus as well."

"We will work to bring Eximbank to Cyprus"

Stating that they conduct new-generation trade missions in a way that will facilitate companies' entry into new markets, İsmail Gülle said, "From now on, our TRNC office will also expand its work for these missions; it will ensure the participation of our Cypriot companies in our trade missions. Along with these; the drawback regime in effect in Turkey, VAT refunds on exports, export-registered sales, contract farming support and support for agricultural exports, and all regulatory infrastructure issues, The experience of TİM will be shared by the TİM TRNC Office with our Cypriot exporters and the Government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Moreover, we will expand our efforts to bring Eximbank's activities here as well. Digital transformation applications such as e-exports, product-sector reports, paperless exports; all of these will be presented step by step to the knowledge of our Northern Cyprus friends," he stated. Emphasizing that TİM has signed major organizations at national and international scale and that they want to see Cypriot exporters as stakeholders in these organizations, Gülle said, "I would like to give good news here. At the Innovation Week and Design Week, which are entering their 8th year, our Cypriot companies and friends will be our guests of honor this year," he said.

Contribution to Improving the Investment Climate in TRNC

Know-how transfer will be provided regarding the development of regulations that will provide new opportunities in TRNC exports through TİM's TRNC Office. Joint work will be carried out to increase financing opportunities for exports in TRNC. Common projects and activities will be organized in areas of mutual agreement through workshops, conferences, seminars, joint committees, technical missions, and information sharing. A dialogue channel will be created to foster cooperation between exporters from TRNC and Turkey. In education and mentoring-based activities aimed at bringing new exporters to the economy, nurturing young entrepreneurs, and creating awareness regarding innovation, at the initiative of mutually agreed state institutions and organizations, TİM will provide information support. TİM will also provide technical and training support to KTSO on trade digitalization and e-commerce. High value-added, technology and competitiveness-level investment areas for export will be identified in TRNC. With the aim of organizing Turkish exporters, increasing Turkish exports and promoting and raising awareness of Turkish products, KTSO will conduct announcement, promotion and advertising campaigns.