Turkish commerce missions visit two continents to back exports

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

A sea carrier enters the port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Rotterdam is one of the cities that a large Turkish trade mission visits this week, others being Amsterdam and Maastricht. REUTERS photo

Turkish trade missions are on a crusade to prop up Turkish exports to and enhance business relations with Europe’s Netherlands, North America and Asian export giant Japan.

A trade mission of 100 Turkish businessmen, led by Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, the head of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges, is heading to the Netherlands as part of President Abdullah Gül’s official visit to mark the 400th anniversary of the establishment of Turkish-Dutch diplomatic relations between April 16 and 19.

The Netherlands Crown Prince Willem Alexander, his wife Princess Maxima, Deputy Prime Minister and Economy, Agriculture and Innovation Minister Maxime Verhagen are expected to attend to the “Turkey-the Netherlands Business Forum” in Amsterdam with Gül.

Nearly 500 prominent figures from the Turkish and the Dutch business and diplomatic world are expected to attend the forum. The forum will feature roundtable meetings on husbandry, agriculture, logistics, transportation, renewable energy, environmental technologies.

The trade mission will also introduce businessmen of Turkish origin in the Netherlands. 

Turkey’s exports to the Netherlands totaled $3.2 billion, while imports were at $4 billion. The Netherlands is at the top of the list of countries making direct investments in Turkey. 

The US and Mexico

Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan is on an official visit to the U.S. and Mexico with a mission consisting of senior representatives of the Turkish exports union and sectors between April 15 and 21. Çağlayan will introduce the incentives scheme to American chief executives and will join G20 trade ministers meeting in Mexico. 

Çağlayan’s visit to the U.S. between April 15 and 18 covers New York, Washington D.C. and Houston. 
A meeting called the Business Council for International Understanding will be held with the broad participation of senior executives of leading firms in New York, according to Anatolia news agency.

American and Turkish total trade volume has risen from $6.4 billion in 2002 to $20.6 billion in 2011.
Çağlayan will also meet his Mexican counterpart, Bruno Ferrari, as he attends a G20 meeting. Turkey’s exports to Mexico totaled to $145.4 million, while imports stood at $494.6 million in 2011.
 
Aegean mission to Japan

Turkish businessmen met with Japanese firms as part of the Japan Trade Mission Organization, looking to increase exports to the country, said the Aegean Exports Union in a written statement on April 14.

The businessmen visited Japan between April 4 and 8, aiming to increase Turkish exports to the island nation, the statement said. The trip was organized the by the Turkey Exports Assembly in coordination with the Ministry of Economy. 

The members of the trade mission held more than 100 bilateral talks with 41 Japanese firms including Ito-Yokado, Itochu, Aeon, Mitsubishi, Toyota and Sumitomo Bank.

 “Turkish exports to Japan totaled $296 million, while the imports totaled $4.2 billion in 2011,” said Cemalettin Damlacı, the Ministry of Economy deputy undersecretary.