FAHRETTİN POYRAZ: WE EVALUATE CHINA FROM LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE

'We evaluate China from long-term perspective'

Fahrettin Poyraz, General Manager of the Agricultural Credit Cooperatives of Turkey (TTKKMB), said that there would be tides in international relations, but they viewed events in terms of institutions and Turkey in the long run.

"We have already been working on the Chinese market for a long time. We need to think of this project independently of these processes," Poyraz said.

"We work without losing sight of the opportunities in line with our capacity and capability. Trade with China is a matter that needs to be evaluated from a long-term perspective. We will continue to do our best to take advantage of any opportunities we face," Poyraz stated.

Last year, Turkey purchased 20.7 billion dollars worth of goods from the Far Eastern nation, while its exports to the country only totaled 2.89 billion dollars. In the first six months of the current year, Turkey's exports to China were about 1.25 billion dollars, while imports were 8.59 billion dollars, according to data by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat). Over the last year, however, Turkey has intensified efforts to broaden its export footprint in the Chinese market.


Poyraz also shared the information that the demand for fruit, especially cherries, from China is quite high.

"Due to the far distance, its cold chain must be well-formed. We focus on this point. There is a market there for dried nuts. We have ongoing studies on this, and they continue positively," he noted, highlighting that they are considering hosting a delegation from China in Turkey. "Depending on developments there, China is our top agenda item," he added...