New Target in Food Exports: The Far East

Japan's Largest Food Fair Foodex Opens with Turkish Participation Foodex Japan 2021, Japan's largest food fair, has opened with national participation organized by the Aegean Exporters Associations for over 20 years with support from the Ministry of Commerce. Jak Eskinazi, Coordinator President of the Aegean Exporters Associations, stated that Japan is Turkey's third trade partner in East Asia and announced that Turkey's exports to Japan reached approximately USD 423 million last year. "Japan is the world's largest investor country and the fourth largest importer. We can take our trade to higher levels. This is why market diversification activities, which we have prioritized in recent years, is one of the most important focal points. The Foodex Japan Fair in Chiba is the most important pillar of our successful market strategy conducted through Turquality and Ur-Ge projects, fairs and sectoral trade delegations in the Asia-Pacific Region. We are now in a period where cooperation in every field is becoming increasingly important. We must think carefully about how to position ourselves in the face of these new commercial alliances and developments. The Technical Cooperation Agreement signed between Turkey and Japan was a new phase between the two countries. However, a stronger step is necessary. Especially at a time when Japan has signed free trade agreements with Europe, the US and the UK, and is part of the free trade bloc created by the RCEP agreement signed by 15 Asia-Pacific countries; our country needs to conclude FTA and Turkey-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations."  

Turkey's food exports to Japan reach USD 217 million

Birol Celep, Deputy Coordinator President of the Aegean Exporters Associations and Chairman of the Board of the Aegean Dried Fruit and Products Exporters Association, stated that 50 percent of Turkey's total exports to Japan and 80 percent of exports from the Aegean Region are food products. "While Turkey's total food exports to Japan were USD 184 million in 2018, they reached USD 217 million in 2019 and 2020. In 2020, food exports from the Aegean Region to Japan amounted to USD 74 million. Fishery products, dried fruits, cereals, legumes and oilseeds, fruit and vegetable products, olives and olive oil are sectors in which we are strong in the Asia-Pacific market. We can increase our food exports to Japan to USD 1 billion. The global organic food market reached USD 129.2 billion with a 23 percent increase. We realize 75 percent of Turkey's organic product exports. During the pandemic, when agriculture is experiencing a golden age and food security has become a top priority, we will develop our commercial relations with Japan through new cooperation and partnerships. We have gained good momentum with the Turquality Project targeting the Japanese, South Korean and Chinese markets in order to increase exports of food products to the Far East market. In 2020, our exports from the Aegean Region to Japan reached USD 89 million with an 8 percent increase." The fair is represented by Turkey's Deputy Secretary General of the Embassy Emel Derinöz Tekin, Commercial Counselor Murat Yapıcı in Tokyo and local staff Mehmet Ayaz. At the same time, tasting events are being organized at the Turkey stand with menus featuring Turkish food products such as dried fruits, olive oil and thyme in sealed packaging suitable for pandemic conditions.