Turkish food exporters will grow in the Asia Pacific market via Singapore

Singapore, one of the world’s reexport centers, is one of the primary target markets for food exports of Turkey, which is the food warehouse of the world with a foreign trade volume of 30 billion dollars in the food sector in 2023. Turkish food exporters aim to strengthen their position in the Asia Pacific market through Singapore.

Turkish food exporters took their place with 26 companies at the Singapore FHA Food and Beverage Fair to take steps to grow in the Asia Pacific market through Singapore.

2.2 billion people live in RCEP countries

Deputy Coordinator of the Aegean Exporters’ Associations and President of the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Exporters’ Association, Hayrettin Ucak, said that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement signed by 15 countries, including Singapore, where 2.2 billion people live, has made the Asia Pacific market a more valuable market. He stated that their aim is to strengthen their position in the RCEP market through Singapore, the world’s most important reexport center.

The target for food exports to Singapore is 100 million dollars

Emphasizing that Turkey is among the world’s largest suppliers in the sectors of hazelnuts, dried fruits, olives and olive oil, fresh fruits and vegetables, fruit and vegetable products, grains, pulses, oilseeds, aquatic products and animal products, non-wood forest products, Akşam said, “In 2023 Having reached a foreign trade volume of 900 billion dollars, Singapore’s foreign trade volume is expected to exceed 1 trillion dollars in 2024. “We have the potential to increase our food product exports to Singapore from 33 million dollars in 2023 to 100 million dollars in 2028,” he said.

40 billion dollars of food exports will be reached with TURQUALITY and UR-GE Projects

Touching on the fact that Turkish food sectors have achieved 26 billion dollars of exports in 2023, President Yavaş said that the exports of food sectors follow a better course than the industrial sectors, and that in order for Turkey’s food exports to reach the target of 40 billion dollars in 2028, the Ministry of Commerce should recommend new markets with high purchasing power, such as Singapore. He added that they will focus on marketing activities with the Fairs, TURQUALITY and UR-GE Projects supported by .

Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association organized a “Trade Delegation” to Singapore in 2023 within the scope of the Fresh Cherry, Grape and Pomegranate URGE Project, which was awarded with the “Best Practice Example” award by the Ministry of Commerce. EYMSİB sees export potential in the Singapore market in products such as apples, citrus fruits and dried tomatoes, which are within its field of business, and continues its work in this direction.

41 companies exporting fresh fruits, vegetables and products joined forces

Seeing Singapore as a gateway to Asia Pacific countries, EYMSİB organized 41 companies in the fresh fruit, vegetable and fruit and vegetable products sector on 14 March 2024 to increase Turkey’s annual fresh fruit, vegetable and fruit and vegetable products exports from 6 billion 100 million dollars to 10 billion dollars. It was combined in the UR-GE Project named Turkish Fresh and Processed Fruits and Vegetables Cluster.

EYMSİB increased Turkey’s fresh fruit and vegetable exports to India, which it determined as the target market in the Fresh Cherry, Grape and Pomegranate URGE Project, by 3.5 times in 3 years, from 30 million dollars to over 100 million dollars. EYMSİB aims for a similar success with the Turkish Fresh and Processed Fruits and Vegetables Cluster UR-GE Project.

At the Singapore FHA Food and Beverage fair, where 1,524 companies stayed; The dairy products, cereals, ready meals, canned goods, ready meals and beverages sectors are strongly represented. The Turkish food industry has taken its place with 26 companies. Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association promoted Turkish delicacies at the stand it set up at the fair.

On the first day of the fair, Turkey’s Ambassador to Singapore Mehmet Burçin Gönenli and Singapore Trade Counselor Esin Arslan visited the Turkey pavilion and EYMSİB stand and shared their experiences about the Singapore market with Turkish exporters.

Singapore FHA Food and Beverage Fair; Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association Chairman of the Board of Directors Hayrettin Ucak, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors Cengiz Balık and Board Members H. Vural Güleç and Mehmet Kırıcı were the participants representing EYMSİB.