Young TİM Focuses on Latin America's Trade Potential

Turkish Exporters Assembly Chair Gülle: "In 10 months, we achieved exports of USD 4.507 billion, up 87% compared to the same period last year" Young Turkish Exporters Assembly Vice Chair Burak Önder: "In 919 product groups where we hold advantages, we have no exports to Colombia. We face a substantial potential market that we must certainly evaluate," he said. Turkish Exporters Assembly Chair İsmail Gülle: "In 2020, despite all negative effects of the pandemic, we kept our exports to Latin America virtually unaffected. The share of our exports to the region in our total exports stood at 2.5% in the first 10 months of 2021"

Turkish exporters on track to reach USD 300 billion export target

Turkish Exporters Assembly Chair Gülle noted that despite all negative effects of the pandemic in 2020, exports to Latin America remained virtually unaffected, stating: "The share of our exports to the region in our total exports stood at 2.5% in the first 10 months of 2021. In 10 months, we achieved exports of USD 4.507 billion, up 87% compared to the same period last year." According to a statement from the Turkish Exporters Assembly, Turkish exporters are progressing steadily toward the USD 300 billion export target through virtual and physical delegations. Continuing efforts to achieve the goal of "Turkey with a Trade Surplus," the Turkish Exporters Assembly established Young Turkish Exporters Assembly to increase the number of young exporters and develop young entrepreneurship in the business world. The Young Turkish Exporters Assembly launched operations in Latin America. Accelerating efforts to open young exporters to different markets, the Young Turkish Exporters Assembly held its first regional meeting in Denizli and then organized its first overseas physical trade delegation to Colombia and Panama. Members of the trade delegation, organized under the coordination of the Ministry of Commerce and the Turkish Exporters Assembly, are conducting bilateral business meetings in the said countries. According to information provided, the trade delegation was headed by Young Turkish Exporters Assembly Vice Chair Burak Önder, and Young Turkish Exporters Assembly members received significant interest at the Turkey-Colombia Business Forum held in Bogota yesterday.

Turkish Exporters Assembly Chair Gülle evaluates Colombia and Panama physical trade delegation

Noting the potential in young people, Gülle stated: "That is why we established the Young Turkish Exporters Assembly not only so that experienced exporters set an example for young people, but so that young exporters serve as examples to each other, provide encouragement, and share their experience. Together with the Young Turkish Exporters Assembly, we aim to ensure sustainability in our exports, develop the next generation of export-capable young people, increase the number of young exporters, and advance young entrepreneurship in the business world. We wish to strengthen our commercial relations with Central and South American countries, setting aside obstacles arising from distance. Export's fundamental characteristic is its ability to bring distant places closer together, regardless of kilometers. In line with our export targets, we should add new markets to our existing ones and increase our effectiveness in markets where we already have a strong presence." Noting that they continue to cover Latin American countries, Gülle informed that Latin America is a market where they maintain high targets across every sector. Gülle emphasized the strong interest in virtual trade delegations organized to these countries and recalled that as the Turkish Exporters Assembly and Exporter Associations, they conducted 97 virtual trade delegations to 73 countries during the 19-month period encompassing the pandemic.

"87% increase in exports to Latin America in 10 months"

Noting that Turkish Airlines' direct flight points in Latin America have accelerated exporters' operations, Gülle provided the following information: "Thus, we can achieve faster results in bilateral relations, the most important matter. In 2020, despite all negative effects of the pandemic, we kept our exports to Latin America virtually unaffected. The share of our exports to the region in our total exports stood at 2.5% in the first 10 months of 2021. In 10 months, we achieved exports of USD 4.507 billion, up 87% compared to the same period last year. During the same period, we sold USD 365.3 million worth of products to Colombia and USD 236.3 million to Panama. In the Latin America region with an economic size of USD 5.7 trillion and a population of 646 million, we can do much better. I believe that with this delegation, our commercial relations will develop further and reach the levels they deserve during such a period of transformation in supply chains."

"Serious potential exists in food products in Panama"

Young Turkish Exporters Assembly Vice Chair Burak Önder reported that as the Young Turkish Exporters Assembly, they organized their first trade delegation to Colombia and Panama. Recalling that Colombia ranks fourth in Latin America by national income and land area and is the third most populous country with a population exceeding 50 million, Önder made the following evaluations: "Looking at the sectors that export the most to Colombia, the steel sector, which increased its exports by 511% to reach USD 186 million compared to the previous year, ranks first; chemicals, which increased by 54% to reach USD 33 million, ranks second; and our textile sector, with a 74% increase to surpass USD 21 million, ranks third. These three sectors account for 68% of our exports to Colombia. When we examine Colombia's imports, we see serious opportunities in sectors where our country is strong, such as cereals, legumes, oilseeds and their products, chemicals and chemical products, electrical and electronics industry, machinery parts, and defense and aviation industry. Additionally, according to work we conducted as the Turkish Exporters Assembly, our country has competitive advantages in a total of 1,559 products. When we look at Colombia's imports of these products specifically, Colombia has imports exceeding USD 11.5 billion in said products. Turkey's imports in this product group are limited to only USD 208 million. In fact, in 919 product groups where we hold advantages, we have no exports to Colombia. We face a substantial potential market that we must certainly evaluate." Stating that Panama is an important market because it provides access through the Colon Free Zone to all of Central America and the Caribbean, Önder noted that there is serious potential in Panama, particularly in food products.  

ISTANBUL (AA)