Trade Minister Ömer Bolat: “Turkey is a strong country in agriculture”

Trade Minister Ömer Bolat, who came to Isparta to attend the consultation meeting organized by the AK Party Provincial Organization, met with representatives of civil society organizations. Speaking at the meeting, Minister Bolat stated that they have reached a production figure of 70 billion dollars from 30 billion dollars, saying, “Turkey is a strong country in agriculture, from 3 billion dollars in exports to over 31 billion dollars last year, we hope to reach 33 billion dollars in exports this year and ensure the consumption of our people. Our efforts will continue in cooperation without any supply shortages.”

Trade Minister Ömer Bolat visited the Isparta Chamber of Commerce as part of his programs in Isparta and met with representatives of civil society organizations. Minister Bolat announced that he would inaugurate the Product Safety and Inspection Office, stating, “This place will be responsible for controls while importing. It will also oversee the safety of local production products. Thus, the quality standard and product safety standard for our exported products will be elevated. This will also lead to an increase in price. Hopefully, we are starting an operation of our Customs Directorate at the airport as well. In terms of increasing the number of tourists and exports via air, we will quickly initiate a section management of our customs office located in Isparta at the airport. Depending on the increase in work, we may decide to establish a new customs office there according to necessity, but for now, we will quickly start a section management there to function. Again, our colleagues have applied to establish a multi-partner “warehouse” to facilitate customs transactions. The establishment works with the Isparta Chamber of Commerce and the Isparta Commodity Exchange are ongoing. Preliminary approval has been granted. We hope that our ministry will start warehouse activities very soon to facilitate customs transactions for the business community in exports and imports. The project to establish a free zone is ongoing, and the establishment project for the fourth organized industrial zone is also continuing. As a government, we will continue to stand by you within the legal limits regarding the issues concerning the Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Industry and Technology, and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. We promise this. Isparta deserves these efforts.”

“Isparta’s exports last year increased to 610 million dollars, not 425 million dollars”

Continuing his speech, Minister Bolat revealed the export figures of Isparta based on activities, stating, “Isparta’s exports last year increased to 610 million dollars, not 425 million dollars. Isparta rose from forty-fifth to forty-first place in Turkey’s export rankings. This year is also going well. As of the first eight months, 425 million dollars worth of goods were exported from Isparta, with 105 million dollars mainly from fruit and vegetable products. Occasionally, there may be certain handicaps in the export of fruit products. There has been a war between Russia and Ukraine for two and a half years. There can be blockages in terms of shipment and collection in the Russian and Ukrainian markets, which are important for Isparta. The Indian market has partially opened. We are making maximum efforts regarding the opening of the markets related to Egypt and our discussions with China and Japan, and of course, reaching a conclusion in these discussions is not something that happens immediately. Every country wants to have its own agricultural production sufficiency and to support its farmers. Even the most developed countries, the USA, Japan, and Germany can do this. Our customs union with the European Union is a free trade agreement regarding industrial products, but they do not want to include agricultural products. When our products, especially our fruit and vegetable products, are sought after by Western and other country consumers due to their quality, taste, and flavor, they are forced to open their doors for purchase.”

“Last year agricultural production was good; this year agricultural production has been very, very good”

In his speech, Minister Bolat evaluated the agricultural production for 2024 compared to the previous year, stating, “Sometimes, drought, flooding, or frost disasters can lead to low figures in production supply. In such cases, we may have to impose restrictions on exports to prevent abnormal and excessive price increases for consumers domestically. This is not always the case. Agricultural production was good last year, but this year it has been very, very good. The supply of production has increased. In this regard, since the beginning of May, we have lifted all the restrictions we had on exports or quantity limits that we applied last year. Just a few days ago, we also removed the export quota of 100 thousand tons for bulk and barrel olive oil. Because last year was a poor year for olives. To avoid any supply shortage for domestic consumption, we agreed to allow packaged products. We had imposed restrictions on bulk and barrel products, but the export of packaged products continued up to eighteen liters. In this regard, we are, of course, alongside our farmers and producers with the support you provide. Similarly, we have to make adjustments in cooperation with our Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to ensure that our consumers do not have to pay excessively high prices for food products. All these decisions are made for the well-being and benefit of our people. The decisions taken can sometimes be in favor of the vast majority, but can also be against a small segment. It is not possible to reach an optimum that everyone can say is wonderful one hundred percent.”

“Turkey is a strong country in agriculture”

At the end of his speech, Minister Bolat stated that they have reached a production figure of 70 billion dollars from 30 billion dollars in 22 years, saying, “Turkey is a strong country in agriculture. From 3 billion dollars in exports, we reached over 31 billion dollars last year, and this year, hopefully, we will reach 33 billion dollars in exports, ensuring the consumption of our people. Our efforts will continue in cooperation without any supply shortages. We have provided our tradesmen with financing support of approximately 18 billion dollars at very low costs with 50% subsidized rates over 22 years, and we continue to do so. Just a moment ago, we announced good news. We are sending an additional fund for Isparta tomorrow for our tradesmen. We are pushing all the possibilities that can be done within the budget for our workers, retirees, farmers, and civil servants.