03.06.2021 Ankara
M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), participated in the, “What’s famous in your town? - Kayseri" program organized in cooperation with Antalya Commodity Exchange (ATB) and Antalya Agriculture and Forestry Directorate.
The program, moderated
by Gürsel Cingöz and attended by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu,
Kayseri Chamber of Industry President Mehmet Büyüksimitçi, Kayseri Chamber of
Commerce President Ömer Gürsoy, Kayseri Commodity Exchange President Recep
Bağlamış, Kayseri Agricultural Forestry Manager Mustafa Şahin and Central
Anatolia Development Agency (ORAN) Secretary General Ahmet Emin Kilci, saw
discussion of regional and geographically marked products.
TOBB President Rifat
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Anatolia, with a history of 12,000 years, is home to
thousands of regional products, and said, “If we cannot promote and market
these values, if we cannot bring them into the economy, they have no value.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu said
that local and natural products are now preferred in the world, “The consumer
pays more for geomarked products. Geomarked product means the enrichment of
the city.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
explained that Italy makes 1 billion dollars a year from one cheese variety in
France, and that while there is a different cheese variety in each village in
our country, its economic value is not at the desired level, “We have a great
cheese culture, but none of us are aware of it. If we can't brand it, if we
can't grow it, we'll lose out on billions of dollars.”
- “YÖREX triggered the geomarked products”
Noting that Regional
Products Fair is a courageous initiative, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Antalya
has brought together thousands of years of Anatolian accumulation in Antalya by
adopting this endeavor, “In 2010, YÖREX, which was held with the participation
of 42 provinces, was held in 2019 with the participation of the regional
products of 81 provinces. Our number of geomarked products is at the point
where it makes the whole world jealous. YÖREX triggered the geomarked product
process. Due to the pandemic, we took a break from YÖREX last year, hopefully
we will continue where we left off this year.”
- “Chambers and exchanges became the pioneers of geomarking”
Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu,
who explained that as TOBB, they support local development and work to increase
the added value and commercial value of local products, said, “We help market
local products throughout the country. We ensure that a large number of
geographically marked products are sold on grocery shelves. Our chambers and
exchanges support the manufacturer in exposing, promoting and branding local
and national products. Thanks to the efforts of our chambers and exchanges, we
have no provinces which haven’t registered a product. As TOBB, we are guiding
this process.”
Noting that 7 regional
products have been registered in the EU in Turkey, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that 16
products have begun their application processes and that they are following up
with these as TOBB.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that they have started work on the sale of geomarked products within the scope
of e-commerce. “The growth rate of e-commerce sites is 100% compared to before
the pandemic. The share of e-commerce in total trade is close to 20%, at 17%. We
hope to utilize this.”
- Presidents introduce Kayseri's local products
Mehmet Büyüksimitçi,
President of Kayseri Chamber of Industry and TOBB Board Member, stated that
Kayseri is home to many regional products and noted that they are working to
bring local products into the economy. “YÖREX is an important fair. President Ali
has been working incredibly hard at this for years. The president's energy is
amazing.”
Kayseri Chamber of
Commerce President Ömer Gürsoy stated that Kayseri, which has a history of
6,000 years, has a wide food and culinary culture. “Many civilizations have
left their mark on Kayseri. This is the source of the richness of our local
products.” Gürsoy stated that 16 products, especially Kayseri's beef bacon,
sausage and ravioli, received geomarks and that there were geomark applications
for many products such as Kayseri yaglama, katmer and tandoor pastry.
The president of Kayseri
Commodity Exchange, Recep Bağlamış noted that, according of Evliya Çelebi - a
17th-century man in Kayseri - that beef bacon production was mentioned in the
17th century. He noted that bacon flavored with the wind of Mount Erciyes
is the most important regional product of the city. Bağlamış said that Kayseri
produces 65% of domestic bacon and 35% of domestic sausage, and explained the
work they have done to protect local products as the Commodity Exchange.
Kayseri Agriculture and
Forestry Manager Mustafa Şahin stressed that Kayseri is an industrial city but
an important agricultural city. “We are a red meat base,” Şahin said,
explaining that Kayseri, which has a large trade volume with sausage, cured meat
and meat products, is a city rich in local products.
Ahmet Emin Kilci,
Secretary General of the Central Anatolia Development Agency, explained the
work they have done as an agency to ensure that local products are not lost and
brought into trade. Noting that many products organize financial support
programs in order to get geographical markings, Kilci said, “We are leading the
way in bringing local products into the economy.”