23.10.2019 Antalya
Organized for the tenth time this year by the Antalya Commodity Exchange (ATB) with the support of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), Local Products Fair (YÖREX) has begun. Speaking at the opening, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said that YÖREX, which was attended by only 40 provinces and visited by 24,000 people 10 years ago, has now turned into a giant national organization with more than 200,000 visitors spanning all 81 provinces today.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that YÖREX has become Turkey’s showcase, where all the colors of the
country meet. Hisarcıklıoğlu, stating that all corners of Turkey meet at
the fair, “If geographical markers are known and heeded as well as they are today,
our chambers, exchanges and most notably, our women entrepreneurs have played
an immense role in this success. 40% of the geographically marked products registered
in the last 10 years were registered by our chambers/exchanges, the number of
registered products exceeding 150.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that the Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank led the
transformation of the industry and its rise to a higher league, and that he is protecting
local values; Hisarcıklıoğlu expressed his thanks to Varank for his vision and
efforts.
- YÖREX is
an important meeting point
Emphasizing that YÖREX
has become an important meeting point for local products to gain of that
branding and commercial value, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Local flavors, geographically
marked products of each province, each county, are on display here. This way
YÖREX enables the promotion of geographically marked products in Turkey and
globally. Manufacturers and retailers come together here. They hold bilateral
business meetings.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
said that they’ve begun organizing YÖREX Geographical Marked Products Summit in
7 regions and the first of these was held in Erzurum.
Pointing out that just
domestic registration is insufficient, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “It is important to
register abroad and enter global markets. So far, 3 of our products, the Gaziantep
baklava, the Aydın fig and the Malatya apricot have been registered in Europe. As
the chambers and exchanges community, we are working for the registration of
our other products in the EU. In this context, we have 15 products awaiting
registration in the EU, from Afyon, Antakya, Edremit, Giresun, İnegöl, Kayseri,
Milas and Taşköprü. More applications have been made from Antep, Aydın and
Malatya more applied.”
- “Protect your
values for prosperity”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
emphasized that the value of the products coming from these lands should first be
recognized by the people of this land, otherwise the value of the products would
not be conveyed to the international market.
Stating that Turkey
has natural wealth bestowed to very few countries throughout the world,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The solution to get rid of the economic turmoil in recent
years also lies in Anatolia. If you want to prosper, if you want to enrich your
region you protect your local products.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
said, that there are 200 kinds of cheese in Turkey, but noted that Italy, France
and the Netherlands push their brands with a single type of cheese; that these
countries export 3-4 billion USD of cheese per year, while Turkey stays at
100-200 million USD.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that the price of geographically marked products has doubled in Europe,
“People are more interested in local and natural products; pay more for them. Focus
on this and branding. Sell your goods to the whole world through e-commerce and
e-exports.”
- Minister
of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank
Industry and
Technology Minister Mustafa Varank stated in his speech that many international
organizations have revised up their growth forecasts for Turkey recently, “Interest
rates and inflation fell; stability has been achieved in exchange rates.”
Varank, speaking at
the opening of the 10th Regional Products Fair held in Antalya ANFAS
Exhibition Center, the fair supports regional development policies with its
contributions in terms of branding, commercialization and protection of local products.
Reminding that
YÖREX hosted over 207,000 visitors last year, Varank said that visitor numbers are
expected to exceed previous year’s record.
- “Geographical markers
are the signature of the land, of the region”
Referring to the
importance of geographical marker registration for local products, Varank said
that geographical signs bear the signature of the land and the
region. Varank, pointing out that the registration adds attractive and
interest-raising qualities to the region, “As of today, we have 454 registered
products. Thanks to the careful and intensive work of the Turkish Patent and
Trademark Authority, there are no provinces without registered goods. We do not
intend to be satisfied with this. We know that we have around 2,500 potential
geographic markers, according to our initial assessments, as well as 429
applications currently in progress.”
Varank stated that
the added value provided to the economy by the registered products is as
important as the number of registrations, and that over 500 registered
geographically marked products of Italy provide over 12 billion Euros for the
country's economy. Explaining that the registered marks only make up
around 2 billion Euros in Turkey’s market, Varank expressed a need for further
focus on processes following registration such as commercialization, branding,
export and gastronomic tourism.
Varank stated that
when geographically marked products, coupled with a strong marketing strategy,
provide a very strong support to local production, tourism, employment and
development, as well as the prevention of migration from rural to urban areas;
stating that they offer various opportunities for the promotion and branding of
products in the markets through development agencies.
- Antalya Governor
Münir Karaloğlu and Antalya Mayor Muhittin Böcek
Antalya Governor
Münir Karaloğlu stated that YÖREX plays an important role in raising awareness
about local products and geographically marked products. Karaloğlu said, “YÖREX
has become a very important brand for both Antalya and Turkey.”
Mayor of Antalya
Metropolitan Municipality Muhittin Böcek stated that Antalya hosts tourists
from all over the world, and that they believe it will attain its goal of 16
million tourists by the end of the year.
- Antalya CCI President
Davut Çetin
Antalya Chamber of
Commerce and Industry President Davut Çetin described YÖREX as “the meeting of
unity and solidarity.” Stating that the growth of YÖREX in Antalya is not
a coincidence, Çetin said, “Local products are the soil, culture and
agriculture of this country. Antalya is the province which has been promoting
local goods globally for over 30 years.”
- Antalya
Commodity Exchange President Ali Çandır
Antalya Commodity
Exchange President Ali Çandır stated that this fair which they’ve been
organizing for 10 years has become Turkey’s brand.
Çandır stated
that, through the fair attended by 164 chambers and the commodity exchanges, 18
development agencies, 647 institutions and companies, covering 81 provinces and
all of the products of the various regions gathered under a single roof, people
can see, taste and feel all the local products in a single place.
- Hisarcıklıoğlu
toured the stands, attended the chamber-commodity exchange consultation meeting
After the opening
ceremony, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu visited the booths in the fair area and
received information about the products and works. Hisarcıklıoğlu then met
with the regional business community at the chamber and commodity exchange
consultation meeting and listened to the problems and solution
proposals. He exchanged views with those in attendance.