GCs realising the quality of Turkish-made products
MEMBERS of the Greek Cypriot marble and mosaic industry are complaining about Turkish marble being legally brought into South Cyprus via the TRNC and Greece. Sector members are most concerned about the possibility of Turkish Cypriots opening shops and showrooms in the South.
With the headline “The Country is Filled with Turkish Marble”, Phileleftheros newspaper pointed out that after the petrol station owners in the South, the members of the Greek Cypriot marble and mosaic sector are now complaining that importing tiles, marble and granite from Turkey is hurting them.
The newspaper wrote that 19 per cent VAT is not applied to these products and that “it creates unfair competition conditions” due to the lower cost of labour in the TRNC and Turkey compared to the South.
Greek Cypriot Marble and Mosaic Sector chairman Yorgos Mitsiyorgis argued that products of Turkish origin are imported to the TRNC via the “Green Line” and shown as if they were produced in the TRNC and that these products, which Greece imports from Turkey, are also exported to South Cyprus “as if they were produced in Greece”.
The newspaper added: “Marble and mosaic owners’ biggest concern at this stage is not the buying and selling being done with the Turkish side, it is the possibility of Turkish Cypriots opening a shop in the South, either personally or through their partners.
“This will do more damage. Especially if they open showrooms where anyone can visit without having to cross over.”
It is true that the most beautiful and quality marble in the world is produced in Turkey. When cheapness is added to the quality, of course it becomes a reason for preference.
After all, whether Greek Cypriot or Armenian, people consider the money that will come out of their pocket.
If the product is both cheaper and better quality, they will not hesitate to buy it; trade has no nationality, especially in a free-market economy! Isn’t that why the Greek Cypriots prefer to buy their fuel from the North? Is it not the reason that many Turkish Cypriots buy meat and similar needs from the South? And why do many Turkish Cypriots choose to fly from Larnaca airport to the UK and other countries? Given that buying and selling is done according to the rules, who can prevent this?
We understand the anxiety and panic of those who suffer losses from this. In this case, they should narrow their profit margins a bit. After all, they should not try to compete with a market of 85 million people.
The Greek Cypriots used to belittle Turkey on many issues in the past, even in tourism! They would say and write that they brought in more tourists.
Nowadays, they are probably aware of how much even the Turkish resort of Antalya has surpassed them.
They know that Turkey is at the global forefront in the field of clothing. I gave an example recently of one occasion. We went to the United States as a group of Turkish Cypriot-Greek Cypriot journalists in the 1990s.
One day while I was wandering around a big, famous store, one of my Greek Cypriot colleagues came over to me with a shirt on a hanger and said: “Akay this is a lovely shirt, but when I look inside its collar it says ‘Made in Turkey’.”
I replied that Turkey is very advanced in clothing and exports all over the world. I don’t remember if he bought the shirt or not.
Don’t both Greeks and Greek Cypriots see those coming to Edirne, in Turkey, from Bulgaria on the weekends forming lines in shops and stores?
Do you think they don’t watch it on TV? Is it not seen and known that Iranians, Georgians and Russians flock to the border cities in Turkey near their country to shop?
Perhaps they are slowly beginning to learn what a country of 85 million is capable of. Some Greek Cypriots from the village of Yeroshibu in Paphos go to İstanbul to buy and then sell kilos of trinkets and souvenirs and are extremely happy because they earn a substantial income.
In fact, we were advised that they can be heard telling their friends: “You cannot find goods like these for such a price anywhere in the world.”
In essence, Turkey is not the old Turkey that most of them remember. There is no need to be afraid of Turkish marble, tiles and mosaics!