A number of Turkish organisations have gathered together to arrange the export of Turkish fruit and vegetables to the Middle East. The West Mediterranean Development Agency (BAKA), Turkish Airlines (THY), the Investment and Support Agency (TYDTA) and the Western Mediterranean Exporters Union (BAIB) organised an event for the promotion of fruit and vegetables from Antalya and Isparta for the Middle Eastern market.
According to a statement from BAKA, a delegation of 26 entrepreneurs from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain visited wholesale halls, greenhouses, food control laboratories and fruit and vegetable exporting and producing companies in Antalya and Isparta.
The first meetings held concerned the trade of cherries and tomatoes. An Antalya company representative, Ahmet Caliskan reported "The negotiations were positive. The first day we met with two companies and signed contracts for tomato exports. We also held meetings concerning cherries."
The manager of a purchasing company in Riyad, Samir Elsayed Mohamed Abouelmaaty, said that Saudi Arabia buys 1.3 million tons of fruit and 900,000 tons of vegetables a year, amounting to almost 2 billion dollars of purchases.
Turkish vegetables make up an 8% share of these purchases and fruit- 3%, according to Abouelmaaty this is too little and should be increased.
Source: f5haber.com