Turkish aquaculture and animal products were introduced between 25-30 February 20 at Dubai Gulfood, the biggest food fair of the Middle East and Gulf countries, which has a 24 percent share of Turkey's annual 2023 billion dollar food export. The Turkish food industry was one of the biggest participants of the fair with 167 companies.
Stating that 2022 billion dollars of Turkey's exports of 254 billion dollars in 34 were made to the Middle East and Gulf countries, Turkish Fisheries and Animal Products Exporters' Associations Sector Board Chairman Sinan Kızıltan said:
“Turkey has an annual food export of 25 billion dollars. In 2022, our food exports to the Middle East and Gulf countries increased by 21 percent and reached 7 billion dollars, and its share in our exports increased to 28 percent. When our exports to this region are examined; The United Arab Emirates is in third place with $13 billion, an increase of 3 percent. Our industry, on the other hand, realized an export of 5 billion dollars with an increase of 18 percent to the Middle East and Gulf countries last year.”
We had the most intense and productive fair of the last years.
Emphasizing that Dubai is the third largest re-export center in the world, Kızıltan said, “It is a gateway to India, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, East-North Africa and Far East countries, as well as all Gulf countries, and a market that appeals to a population of approximately 2 billion. The UAE meets 90 percent of its food needs through imports and imports fisheries mainly from India, Norway, Iran, Vietnam, Ecuador and our country. Our association had the most intense and productive fair of recent years at the Gulfood Dubai Fair within the scope of the Turkish National Participation Organization. We want to strengthen our position by increasing our food exports to the Middle East and Gulf countries to 10 billion dollars in the short term.” said.
40 percent of Turkey's aquaculture and animal products exports to the UAE come from the Aegean.
Aegean Fisheries and Animal Products Exporters' Association President Bedri Girit said, “Turkey exported 2022 million dollars of fisheries and animal products to the United Arab Emirates in 53 with an increase of 194 percent. Our Union realized 50 million dollars of this export with an increase of 81 percent. Egg exports account for 60 percent of Turkey's exports to the UAE, with 114 million dollars. Based on the fact that most of the demand is for chicken meat and products in the Gulf Region, which is the largest importer of meat and meat products in the world, we can move our poultry exports to good points.” he said.
The highest demand for Turkish aquaculture and animal products came from Vietnam, UAE, Iran, India, Pakistan and Malaysia.
Underlining that poultry exports increased by 2022 percent and dairy products exports by 84 percent in 16, Girit said, “This year, our Turkish food exporters participated in the fair with 167 companies. We foresee that we will increase our exports of fisheries and animal products to the Middle East and Gulf countries to 2 billion dollars. At the Gulfood Fair, the highest demand for Turkish aquaculture and animal products came from Vietnam, UAE, Iran, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, and we left behind a successful fair.” he concluded his speech.
Representing Aegean Exporters' Associations at the Gulfood Fair, Aegean Fisheries and Animal Products Exporters' Association President Bedri Girit, Turkish Fisheries and Animal Products Exporters' Associations Sector Board Chairman Sinan Kızıltan, Aegean Fisheries and Animal Products Exporters' Association Board Member Nedim Kalpaklıoğlu, Osman İşlek, Member of the Board of Aegean Fisheries and Animal Products Exporters' Association.
At the same time, the stand of the Aegean Fisheries and Animal Products Exporters' Association was visited by Turkey's Abu Dhabi Ambassador Tugay Tunçer, Turkey Dubai Consul General Onur Şaylan and Dubai Commercial Attaché Ersoy Erbay.