28.09.2019 Mersin
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu visited Mersin Commodity Exchange.
Hisarcıklıoğlu,
in his speech during a visit to the city, reported that Mersin is the first in
fruit production and third in vegetable production in Turkey.
Stating
that the Mersin Commodity Exchange is working to further agriculture in Mersin,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Turkey Product Specialized Exchanges have been founded.
We are yet to hit the official exchange gong, but we are operational now. We
began with wheat and corn. Our transaction volume reached a record level
yesterday. It continues to increase every day.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that many economic problems have been overcome throughout Turkey's past,
“Since the day I began my career, there have been many domestic and
international crises. We overcame them all; coming out stronger. We will be
more powerful than today's troubles. Every adversity, increases our resilience even
more, opens up new horizons. We must never lose our culture of cooperation.”
- “Agriculture-food sector is the
main backbone of Mersin economy”
Mersin
Commodity Exchange President Abdullah Özdemir stressed the importance of the
agriculture and food sector for Mersin, “We are 5th in terms of agricultural
income nationally, in 4th position for agriculture and food exports.
Agriculture makes up 70% of our city's total exports and 62% of imports. In
other words, the agri-food sector is the main backbone of the Mersin economy.
Our commodity market is the leader of 113 commodity exchanges in citrus and
pulses.”
Özdemir,
noting that the city is hosting the International Citrus Festival, “The
festival will take place for the seventh time on November 1st
through the 3rd. Under the auspices of the Governorate of Mersin and
the coordination of our Exchange, the fair which hosted 1,300 visitors last
year, this festival is the biggest expo of our city.”