The UK will stand out in agricultural exports
“Turkey IN A WEBINAR LAST WEEK TITLED and the United Kingdom: Agriculture and Livestock Investment and Cooperation •pportunities”, organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), Ayse Aysin Isikgece, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, noted that the trade relationship between Turkey and the UK has many areas for improvement. “We aim to increase our organic products exports from their current level of USD 361m to USD 550m,” Isikgece said.
Last year, Isikgece noted, Turkey increased its agricultural production by 7 million tonnes to 124 million tonnes. “With 18.6 million units of livestock in 2020, Turkey grew 4.8% in terms of agricultural activities while agricultural revenues increased by 20%. Agriculture and food exports also increased by 5%,” she said. “Turkey increased its export revenues in the sector by 9%, reaching USD 20bn worth of exports. 1,982 different products were exported to 205 countries.”
DIGITAL AGRICULTURE PORTAL TO LAUNCH INTERNATIONALLY
Turkey ranks 13th globally with 540,000 hectares of organic farmland and is the world leader in hazelnut, apricot, dried fig, quince, and raisin exports, Isikgece stated. During the pandemic, the ministry was constantly collaborating with producaers and retail chains to “ensure the continuation of production,” she said.
“Suppliers were exempted from pandemic restrictions and continued to operate without interruption.” Isikgece added that a digital agricultural portal (www.ditap.gov.tr), which brings together the producer and the buyer, was key to preventing waste and losses during the pandemic. The deputy minister also declared their interest in making the portal available internationally.
BIG POTENTIAL GIVEN POLITICAL WILL: AMBASSADOR CHILCOTT
Speaking at the opening of the webinar, the UK’s Ankara Ambassador, Dominick Chilcott, highlighted both population growth and climate change, stating the need for radical innovations in food production. “Turkey is far ahead in agriculture and there are many developments concerning innovation in the UK. Both the companies operating in the agricultural sector and the world as a whole can benefit from the cooperation of the two countries. In 2019, the bilateral agricultural trade balance stood at more than USD 550m in favor of Turkey. The UK exported agricultural products worth GBP 167m to Turkey that year,” Chilcott said.
Chilcott also noted the significance for the agricultural sector of the UK’s exit from the EU following half a century of membership. “The EU had certain attitudes toward innovation,” he said. “•ur farmers have struggled with this. British suppliers faced a 28% tariff when shipping beef to the U.S. or Scottish whiskey to India. From now on, we can determine our own tariffs. We are hoping to open up to new markets. We want British consumers to meet quality products from non-EU countries as well.”
The ambassador stated that in two years, the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed by the two countries will allow for successful collaboration in agriculture when agricultural products are included in the agreement. “We need to pave the way for mutual investments. We need to eliminate obstacles together. There is serious potential if the two countries can put forward the political will,” he added.
THE UK HAS REQUESTED INFORMATION FROM TURKEY: AMBASSADOR YALCIN
Turkey’s UK Ambassador, Umit Yalcin, also pointed out the predictability enabled by the FTA. Yalcin stated under the FTA, Turkish and British parties will initiate an evaluation process and the modernized FTA will provide significant advantages to Turkey. “The UK produces 64% of the food it consumes and imports the rest. The total value of imports is GBP 47.9bn. Turkey, as the number one agricultural producer in the EU and 10th in the world, offers an important opportunity for the UK with its geographical advantage. Turkey’s share in these imports can increase,” Yalcin said. Yalcin also noted the UK’s desire for information from the Ministry of Forestry about the products under protection.