Qatari and Turkish businessmen, who held bilateral talks in ?zmir this month, will reunite at the ‘Food and Consumer Fair’ slated in Doha from October 26 to 29. During the event, export-oriented negotiations are expected to take place.
Aegean Exporters’ Associations (E?B) vice co-ordinator chairman Nurettin Tarakc?oglu likened export to a marathon run and said continuity and consistency are very important. Tarakc?oglu noted that relations are progressing as they come together with business people in countries they export to.
“When we come together at bilateral talks, fairs, or other organisations, we better understand the wishes and demands of the other party,” he said.
Tarakc?oglu pointed out that profitable sales are difficult in the European market. He said: “However, markets like Qatar are more profitable for us. They are markets where we can better explain our products. Therefore, we attach importance to such fairs and activities we are trying to participate in.”
Tarakc?oglu noted that some countries in the world “are prejudiced against Turkey.”
“There is love for Turks in Qatar. If we display (in Qatar) how advanced our industries are, we will yield results in the medium and long term,” he said.
Indicating that the E?B plans to hold a national participation organisation at the fair, he said that they expect that products that are at the forefront of both Turkey’s export and production, such as apricots, figs, olives, and grapes will see “great interest in Qatar.”
Tarakc?oglu said that meetings with Qatari business people in Izmir at the beginning of August were “very positive.”
Suggesting that doing business with people close to the same thought is more efficient and improves co-operation in a short period of time, he said: “We sensed this in ?zmir. We can get our products through this market with their quality and price. Turkish exporters can compete with international companies. What is important is not to increase exports because of an emerging political crisis but to be permanent there.”
According to the Turkish Exporters Assembly (T?M), Turkey reached $152.6mn in exports to Qatar, which was embargoed by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt since June 5.
Turkish exports to Qatar stood at $82.2mn in the same period last year. The electrics-electronics sector led the way in exports with $28.2mn, followed by water and livestock products with $26.8mn.
Qatar-Turkey bilateral business talks organised by the Ministry of Economy were held in ?zmir in the beginning of August and attended by 90 company representatives from Qatar and 150 representatives from Turkey.
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