Sustainable and Value-Added Food Export Workshop to Be Held

Roadmap for sustainable and value-added food exports to be determined in Izmir

Workshop on sustainable and value-added food exports to be held in Izmir with the participation of Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan

A workshop will be held in Izmir with the participation of Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan and Turkish Exporters Council Chairman İsmail Gülle to determine the roadmap for sustainable and value-added food exports. The event, to be organized by Aegean Exporters Associations on 5 February under the name Food Industry Joint Wisdom Workshop within the scope of the Export Master Plan, will address Turkey's food exports. The workshop, which will begin with an evaluation of the Export Master Plan by the Head of the Agricultural Products Department of the Trade Ministry's Directorate General of Exports Orhan Ercan, will feature opening remarks by Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan, Turkish Exporters Council Chairman İsmail Gülle and Aegean Exporters Associations (EİB) Coordinator Chairman Jak Eskinazi. Within the scope of the workshop where sector stakeholders will share their views, the roadmap for sustainable and value-added exports will be determined. The workshop is expected to include senior officials from the Trade Ministry as well as the Treasury and Finance Ministry, Industry and Technology Ministry, Agriculture and Forestry Ministry and Health Ministry.

"Our goal as EİB is food exports of USD 10 billion"

EİB Coordinator Chairman Jak Eskinazi stated that the association achieves annual food exports averaging USD 5 billion, which accounts for 22 percent of Turkey's food exports. Emphasizing that Aegean Exporters Associations holds a leading position in Turkey in the export of products such as dried fruits, processed fruits and vegetables, aquatic products, olives and olive oil, and spices and oilseeds, Eskinazi said, "The Agriculture-Based Specialized Organized Industrial Zone to be established in Dikili will activate the region's potential. In addition, plans are underway to open specialized industrial zones in other districts. These will add momentum to both the domestic market and exports." Noting the excellent cooperation between chambers and exchanges within the city, Eskinazi said, "With this good cooperation and sustainability emphasis, we as an association believe we will double our food exports from USD 5 billion and increase it to USD 10 billion in the medium term." Regarding the workshop, Eskinazi said, "As a result of the topics to be discussed here, strategic targets, solution proposals and a roadmap will be determined for sustainable and value-added exports. The foundations of sustainable food production and exports lie in producing high-quality products using less water and energy with less waste, as well as in reducing losses in food and utilizing all produced food. This will be an important workshop to achieve this goal."