Mediterranean furniture and forest products companies have set off for the Gulf. A sectoral trade delegation was organized to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, under the coordination of the Ministry of Trade, with the organization of the Mediterranean Furniture Paper and Forest Products Exporters' Association (AKAMİB) and the cooperation of the Western Mediterranean Exporters' Association (BAİB). Within the scope of the "Saudi Arabia Riyadh Sectoral Trade Delegation" organized between February 3-6, 2025, a total of 12 export companies made field visits to see the opportunities in Saudi Arabia on site and establish potential business connections. After the visits, over 70 B300B meetings were held with 2 Saudi companies.
The goal is to be among the top 3 in Saudi Arabia's imports
AKAMIB President Onur Kılıçer, who stated that Turkey’s furniture, paper and forestry product exports to Saudi Arabia increased by 12 percent last year and reached 141 million dollars, said, “Saudi Arabia has approximately 3,5 billion dollars of imports. They procure more than 50 percent of their needs from China and the United Arab Emirates. As Turkey, we are in 4th place after Italy in Saudi Arabia’s imports. Our share is around 4,8 percent. The gap between us and Italy is not much. We can be in 3rd place with both our developing relations and successful organizations such as the sectoral trade delegation. During the field visits and B2B meetings we conducted as part of the delegation, the desire of Saudi companies to establish commercial partnerships with Turkey in the construction of Syria drew our attention. The intense interest we have seen is an indication of the trust in Turkish furniture and forestry products. As AKAMIB, we will continue our work without slowing down to increase our exporters’ competitive power in the global market and to ensure that they establish new collaborations.”
