Visits of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Guinea-Bissau should contribute to the opening of new markets for Turkish companies operating in the agricultural sector and to increase trade volume in this field.
Initially, agreements, such as the cooperation agreement in field of Exports of vegetables and fruits, cooperation agreement in field of Export of Peanut products and memorandum of Agreement on provision of Motorized agricultural equipment should be signed between Turkey and Senegal, during the visit, according to a report by Anadolu Agency (AA) who quoted the ministry of Agriculture and forestry.
Although no agreement is expected with the DRC, on expects the cooperation, knowledge and experience share on topics such as desertification, drought, forest fire and pest control, watershed management and wastewater treatment will be on the agenda during the visit.
Nihat Uysalli, President of the Association of Exporters of Cereals, Pulses, Oilseeds and Products of Central Anatolia (OAIB), told AA that they find Erdogan’s vision of very important opening to Africa.
pointed uysalli out that the national the national carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) allows exporters to reach every point in Africa and that it’s been a great contribution to Turkey both politically and economically.
“Import data of Food products from Senegal shows that Turkey has great potential as an exporter for legumes, semolina, starch, inulin, palm oil, sweets, cocoa preparations, bakery products and yeast group,” he said.
$1 billion in sectoral exports
Nejdat Sin, President of the board of the Mediterranean Association of Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters (AKIB), explained that the Turkish fresh fruit and vegetable sector mainly exports apples, carrots, radishes, grapes, tea, beans, dates and oranges to Senegal. Sin said, “Senegal and the KDC (DRC), which Erdoğan will visit as part of of son Africa program will make a significant contribution to the Turkish fresh fruit and vegetable sector, which out intensive studies to increase market diversity, becoming more effective in the African continent.
Sin pointed out that their products are similar in European quality countries at more competitive prices in the African marketwhere Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, France, the United Kingdom and Germany mainly dominate.
“The trade agreement to sign with Senegal and the trade the diplomacy that we will develop, for our fresh fruits and vegetables, grains and pulses, aquaculture and animal products sectors to take greater share in the African markets will be a significant and driving moment force for our exports in terms of establishment new export bridges in other countries in west of the African continent,” he said.
According to the data of the Assembly of Turkish Exporters (TIM), Turkey’s exports of agricultural products to Senegal amounted to 88.1 millions of dollars in 2021 with a raise of about 30% compared to the previous one year, with biggest contributor items being cereals, legumes, oilseeds with 59.7 millions of dollars.
Next come furniture, paper and forest products with 20.4 millions dollars and aquaculture and animal products with 5.9 millions of dollars.
Exports of fruit and vegetable products, seen among the best items on that a deal should take place amounted to $1.2 million and exports of fresh fruits and vegetables were $211,000 last year.
export from turkey of agricultural products to the DRC was worth 27.6 millions of dollars last year. In 2020, this figure was 34.7 millions of dollars. Cereals, pulses, oilseeds and products took most grand share in exports with 16.7 millions of dollars.
Turkey’s exports to Guinea-Bissau, where first presidential-level visit will take placewas $1.7 million in 2020 and increased to 2.9 millions of dollars last year.
