FIVE TARGET SECTORS PRIORITIZED FOR EXPORTS INCLUDING FOOD...

Embarking on a quest for sustainable exports, Turkey has now launched an approach that includes the unleashing of long-term export potential and puts forward a sustainable strategy that will help the country multiply its exports. As part of the Export Master Plan, which was prepared as a result of meticulous efforts carried out by the Trade Ministry in close cooperation with relevant stakeholders, Turkey aims to extend the positive performance in foreign sales to coming years and develop, increase the volume, tech composition and value-added of the exports.

As part of the new road map, it has selected 17 target countries to where it aims to double its exports, and five target sectors, said Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan at the announcement ceremony for the plan in Istanbul Thursday. "These countries include the U.S., Brazil, China, Ethiopia, Morocco, South Africa, South Korea, India, Iraq, the U.K., Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Uzbekistan, Russia and Chile," Pekcan said.

Combined, these countries make up 60 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP), are responsible for 43.7 percent of global imports and are destinations for 25.2 percent of Turkish exports. In addition, the ministry prioritizes five target sectors, including machinery, automotive, electric-electronic, chemical and the food industry, Pekcan added. "We aim for a sustainable export approach within the scope of the plan," she said.

The new plan also outlines a strategy for special free-trade zones, areas with special regulatory treatment for businessmen and investors that aim at promoting export-oriented investment and production, accelerating foreign direct investment and technology access, directing enterprises toward exports and developing international trade.

Through these special zones, Turkey aims to increase the current 3.5 percent share high-tech products have in overall exports to 5 percent, the minister said.

"We aim to increase high-tech production and attract foreign investors to our country with the support we will provide to these regions," Pekcan noted.

Elaborating on the plan's preparation process, Pekcan underscored that they took into account targets set out in the 11th Development Plan, noting that they aim for 226.6 billion dollars in exports.

The five-year development plan, covering the period from 2019 to 2023, was ratified by Parliament earlier last month and identifies the production of high value-added, medium-high and high-tech products, using domestic facilities and capabilities as one of its main priorities.

Pekcan went on to say that the actual target would be to even go over this target by closely following the global trade wars and technological transformations.