Interfresh Eurasia, one of Türkiye’s major international events for the fresh fruit and vegetable industry, has opened its doors. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Dr. Zafer Levent Yıldır said that, as a local government, they provide support at every stage of agricultural production.
 
Hosted by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and organized by ANTEXPO Fuarcılık at Fuar İzmir, Interfresh Eurasia officially opened its doors with a ceremony. Bringing Türkiye’s fresh fruit and vegetable industry together with international markets, Interfresh Eurasia once again brought buyers from different countries around the world together with all stakeholders of the industry in İzmir. Held from September 8 to 10, the fair aims to expand Türkiye’s export potential in the fresh fruit and vegetable sector into international markets, bringing producers, exporters and industry professionals together with buyers from around the world in İzmir. This year, more than 580 registered international buyers from over 80 countries are attending the fair, where more than 1,300 B2B meetings are expected to be held. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Dr. Zafer Levent Yıldır said the event demonstrated just how broad and vital the agricultural sector is.
 
Agricultural Master Plan in Preparation
Yıldır stated that İzmir Metropolitan Municipality is involved at every stage of agricultural production and announced that they are preparing an Agricultural Master Plan. He said they want to shape the draft plan with input from participants and stakeholders. Noting that the agricultural sector is facing a serious labor shortage, Yıldır emphasized the need to implement the necessary measures and support mechanisms as soon as possible. Referring to the strength of the Aegean Region in agricultural exports, Yıldır said İzmir Metropolitan Municipality would continue to support producers and every stage of agricultural services, and expressed his hope that the fair would achieve greater participation and trade potential in the coming years.
 
“I sincerely thank everyone who has provided support”
Ersin Tatar, the 5th President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), noted that the TRNC has significant agricultural production potential and said that the Interfresh Eurasia Fair had been organized through considerable effort. Tatar said, “In addition to the Republic of Türkiye’s exports of more than 7 billion dollars in this sector, I sincerely thank everyone who is supporting the delivery of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’s citrus, oranges and other fresh fruit and vegetable products to world markets, despite the fact that the TRNC is still under embargo and faces various challenges in trade.” Stating that the TRNC’s production and entrepreneurship potential is growing steadily, Tatar highlighted the importance of investment in expanding the sector, strengthening producers and industrialists, increasing employment and contributing to the economy.
 
“Agricultural exports reached $21.7 billion”
Dr. Mehmet Ali Kılıçkaya, Director General for Exports at the Ministry of Trade, also said that trade fairs serve as important meeting points for exporters. Noting that Türkiye’s economy and exports have continued to grow despite unfavorable developments in global demand and all the challenges faced, particularly trade wars, Kılıçkaya said agricultural exports increased by 4.8 percent in the first eight months of the year, reaching $21.7 billion. Stating that a strong performance was also recorded in processed fresh fruit and vegetable exports, Kılıçkaya said total exports in this category reached $4 billion in the first eight months of the year. Kılıçkaya added that efforts were continuing to overcome non-tariff barriers facing fresh fruit and vegetable exports and to open up new markets.
 
Highlights the Aegean Region’s Leading Position
Muhammet Öztürk, Chairman of the Board of the Aegean Exporters’ Associations Coordinator, said the Aegean Region is Türkiye’s leader in agricultural exports, with annual agricultural exports exceeding $7.5 billion. Öztürk noted that the region is also a leader in dried fruit as well as processed fruit and vegetable exports. Stating that the agriculture-based specialized organized industrial zones in Dikili, Bayındır and Kınık in İzmir would contribute to the region’s agricultural exports, Öztürk said he believed the Aegean Region would reach an agricultural export potential of $10 billion by the end of the next five years. Öztürk also emphasized that trade fairs would contribute to Türkiye’s target of reaching $50 billion in agricultural exports.
 
Fair to Contribute to Production and Export Potential
Cengiz Balık, Chairman of the Board of the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association, said the fresh fruit and vegetable sector has strategic importance for the Turkish economy, from production and exports to employment and rural development. He stated that they highly value the organization of international events in İzmir that bring together all stakeholders of the sector. Kemal Kaçmaz, Chairman of the National Citrus Council, also expressed his belief that new business connections and trade agreements established during the fair would contribute to producers, exporters and the national economy.
 
“Number of International Buyers Increased by 300 Percent”
Murat Özer, General Coordinator of the Interfresh Eurasia Fair, said the fair has been strengthening its international profile year by year. Noting that the number of international buyers has increased by 300 percent since 2018, Özer said they would host more than 580 international buyers from over 80 countries this year and that more than 1,300 B2B meetings are expected to be held throughout the fair. Özer stated that they aim to make Interfresh an important showcase for the industry on the international stage, adding that the TRNC is the partner country and Denizli is the partner city of this year’s fair.
 
 
 

Diğer Haberler

Tüm Haberleri Gör