03.09.2014 Ankara
Turkey’s largest local products trade fair, Local Goods Fair (YÖREX) will open its doors to visitors on October 22nd. Local, traditional goods of Anatolia from 81 provinces will be on display in search of new markets at the Antalya Expo Center.
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that branding is necessary
in order to transform local goods into wealth, expressing his full support for
the Local Goods Fair.
TOBB president M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the 5th Local
Goods Fair, YÖREX, organized by the Antalya Commodity Exchange, will bring
together all the local goods of Anatolia and said, “Local goods from the four
corners of Turkey, from its provinces and counties, will be promoted at YÖREX.
This fair is an organization on which I put great importance. We have no
petroleum or natural gas. Much more valuable wealth gushes forth from these
lands. From food to handcrafted goods; from industrial goods to arts and
crafts, textiles, rugs, woodcarvings – there are over 3,000 types of local
goods. Be sure that if this wealth and quality were in the hands of any other
nation they would be rich with just these brands.”
Stating that YÖREX is a great opportunity to redound these values to the
economy, Hisarcıklıoğlu urged chambers and exchanges in the provinces to
protect them.
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “At YÖREX, we will promote goods while also
ensuring that they are branded and gain added value. This fair has cemented its
place. An attendee from Van, a purveyor of Turkish delights, is marketing his
goods to over 80 hotels. The Gelibolu Mevevi treats has reached an agreement
with the Turkish Airlines’ supplier, becoming a part of their menu. Over 30
million domestic and foreign travelers are eating Gelibolu’s Mevlevi treats
each year.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stressed the need to carry the fair into the
international circuit, and stated that TOBB has supported the fair from its
very beginning.
- 50 billion USD trade volume
Antalya Commodity Exchange (ATB) and West Mediterranean Development
Foundation (BAGEV) Board Chairman Ali Çandır stated that goods with
geographical markers have a global trade volume of 50 billion USD and said,
“Every year, this volume increase. We must take advantage of this potential.”
Providing information on the various policies regarding local goods in
the EU, Çandır drew attention to the fact that Anatolia, with over 3,000 local
goods, only has 183 of these goods labeled as geographical markers.
Having launched the Local Goods Project in order to redound local goods
to the economy, Ali Çandır reported that they have been holding YÖREX since
2010 and went on to invite all provinces and counties to take part in the fair.