20.10.2021 Antalya
“Regional Products Fair YÖREX”, organized for the 11th time this year with the support of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), started at ANFAS Exhibition Center.
Speaking at the opening
of the fair, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu noted that YÖREX started in
2010 with the slogan 'if there is a crisis, there is a solution' in order to
bring regional and geomarked products to the economy, “We supported this
initiative initiated by our Antalya Commodity Exchange as TOBB. In the
intervening 10 years, we have hosted 3,000 participants and more than 1 million
visitors. At the same time, YÖREX has made important contributions to the development
of the geomark ecosystem in our country. In 10 years, the number of registered
geomarks increased from 110 to 921 and the number of applications increased
from 160 to 721. YÖREX has increased the perception and awareness of geomarks.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu also
announced that YÖREX has been awarded the United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) special award and the Chamber-Exchange Project Competition
Jury Special Award.
“YÖREX has become
Turkey's showcase of regional products and geomarks,” Hisarcıklıoğlu said. From
east to west, from north to south, all of Turkey stands side by side here in
unity, solidarity and fraternity.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu, who
shared his vision of transitioning from quantity to quality in geomarks as
TOBB, said, “Here we started to register geomark manufacturers primarily
through our Chambers and Exchanges. Producers start the production of geomarked
products by contracting with the Chamber or Commodity Exchange, which is the
registered owner. Our Chambers and Exchanges are also testing this and creating
the market. Thus, they also make it possible for geomarks to be the subject of
more trade.”
In this context,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they have made YÖREX an important meeting point for
the branding and commercial appreciation of local products and geomarks,
bringing together geomark manufacturers, national retailers and e-commerce
portals to conduct bilateral business meetings.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
explained that they have launched campaigns with e-commerce portals specific to
geomarks, and emphasized that geomark manufacturers are more involved in
e-commerce.
Noting that the work is
not finished only with domestic registration, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “It is now
very important to register abroad and enter global markets. So far, 7 of our
products have been registered in Europe, and the evaluation process of all 24
of our products is ongoing. I would like to sincerely thank my Chambers and
Exchanges for doing this. With our TOBB Brussels Office, we help the EU
registration process of geographical markings. We have also prepared a guide
for geographical markings to help the EU registration process.”
TOBB President
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they are working on the smart label project in order
to ensure traceability, tracking and certification of geomarks, and that the
consumer will now prefer the geomark with confidence while the manufacturer
will proudly present the product.
“If we do not know the
value of the products coming out of these lands first, we cannot tell the
foreign markets in any way,” Hisarcıklıoğlu said. Research them, brand them and
sell them to the world. Send them all over the world with e-commerce and
e-export. It's getting so easy now. In these matters, both TOBB and our
Chambers and Exchanges will help you.”
- Other speakers
Antalya Governor Ersin
Yazıcı said that the importance of food and agriculture was once again
understood during the coronavirus pandemic. Pointing out that the values should
be opened to the world market, Yazıcı said, “We will make the promotion of regional
products geomarked products to the world together from the world city by
expanding YÖREX even more. We had a fire that affected Manavgat's villages. I
would like to thank the TOBB President for their support. We will market our
local values to the world market together. We're going to teach the world our
values. We may be a little behind, some of our products may be overdue, but I
believe that the beautiful people of this country, the commodity exchange and
the chamber presidents will bring other products, especially local products, to
the top of the world.”
Antalya Metropolitan
Mayor Muhittin Böcek stated that agricultural producers closely follow the
problems of their rural producers. Stating that the producer knows very well
the value of the villager's sweat, Böcek said, “Due to the pandemic and climate
change, the agricultural sector is deeply affected by risks such as natural
disasters and drought. It is understood by everyone that even a handful of soil
is important. The cost of producers should be reduced and employment in
agriculture should be increased. As a metropolitan area, we take care to
implement local development projects and develop agriculture.”
Nurten Öztürk, TOBB Women
Entrepreneurs Council President, stated that cooperatives should be supported
on the basis of women and that conscious collaborations should be made. Öztürk
expressed happiness in taking part in the fair, which promotes women in rural
areas who uphold national values. Öztürk stated that such activities are
important for promoting local products on the trade route, encouraging women in
the countryside and paving the way for entrepreneurs.
Antalya Chamber of
Commerce and Industry President Davut Çetin stated that the city has set
investment records in the agricultural sector in the last two years. Stating
that YÖREX is more than an event, Çetin said, “We have come a long way in
branding food both nationally and locally. We registered 5 geomarked products
as a chamber. Gastronomy fairs are on our agenda. We will achieve much better
success next year.”
Ali Çandır, President
of Antalya Commodity Exchange, said that 13 years ago, they started their
journey of local products with the slogan “What is famous about your place?”
and today they have implemented a major project that is sweeping the whole
country. Underlining that they know the value of products belonging to the
richness of culture and civilization accumulated over 12,000 years, Ali Çandır said,
“We also know that countries with several hundred years of history in the world
export billions of dollars from their local products, create added value and
motivate them to live in the countryside. Today, local products are much more
recognizable, demanded and naturally produced and sold almost anywhere in our
country. The most important issue that we should pay attention to here is to
protect and guarantee the rights and law of these local products. It is the
geomark registrations that provide this protection, both nationally and
internationally.”
“This year, there are
over 650 exhibitors from 76 provinces and TRNC with 113 chambers and exchanges,
16 development agencies, 83 women's cooperatives,” Çandır said.
Prof. Dr. Habip Asan, President
of the Turkish Patent and Trademark Association, stated that there is a serious
awareness in Turkey about the geomarked product. Stating that the issue of
creating more added value and sustainability on the basis of geomarked products
came to the forefront, Asan said, “Turkey has experienced a 20-fold increase in
industrial property compared to 15 years ago. According to the World
Intellectual Property Organization, Turkey ranked in the top 10 in the world in
industrial applications.”
Following the speeches,
awards were given to 7 companies that received EU Geomark Registration.
- Hisarcıklıoğlu visited the stands and attended the
chamber-commodity exchange consultation meeting
TOBB President
Hisarcıklıoğlu visited the stands in the fairgrounds after the opening ceremony
and received information about the products and works. Hisarcıklıoğlu then met
with the heads of the regional chambers / commodity exchanges at a consultation
meeting and listened to the problems and solution proposals. He exchanged
views.