21.12.2024 Antalya
The President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, stated that the Union offers different opportunities to Turkish exporters through its trade center in the USA, and reported that with the new US administration, cooperation opportunities and opportunities may arise for Türkiye in this market.
Hisarcıklıoğlu made
statements to journalists about the TOBB Trade Center project and exports to
the USA in Antalya, where he was in Antalya for the Economic Consultation
Meeting of the 29th Term Assembly Members of the Ankara Chamber of
Commerce (ATO).
Stating that the
foundations of the idea of trade centers were laid in 2012, inspired by the
successful exporter countries of the world such as Germany, the USA and South
Korea, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the project was put into practice in 2021 with
the support of the Ministry of Trade.
Stating that the first
center was opened in Chicago, USA, Hisarcıklıoğlu said: “Our 100 exporter
companies continue their activities in 17 different sectors such as machinery,
technology, construction materials, textiles, automotive spare parts, furniture
and food. As the world's largest economy, the US offers unique opportunities
for the Turkish business world. We are late to the US market, which imports 3.2
trillion dollars worth of goods. They have money, they buy goods, goods are
sold to them. It is a great opportunity for the future of our country. 100
billion dollars of furniture is imported. We are strong in furniture, but
capacity is insufficient. Our furniture manufacturers are working to increase
capacity.”
Pointing out that there
are opportunities in the US market with a per capita income of 86,000 dollars
and a gross domestic product of 29 trillion dollars, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that
especially the construction materials sector stands out with an annual import
volume of 120 billion dollars.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that in the last 5 years, exports to the US have increased by 46 percent to
14.8 billion dollars and said, “Although this rate of increase is valuable, our
total share in US imports is still below 5 per thousand. This shows that we
still have a lot of work to do.”
Pointing out that the
foreign trade volume between Türkiye and the US is at the level of 30 billion
dollars, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the target of 100 billion dollars trade
volume is an achievable goal.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
emphasized that in order to achieve this goal, they plan to increase technology
and service exports, establish new sector-oriented logistics centers and bring
more Turkish companies to the US market and said, “The US has great potential
in areas such as furniture and household goods, food and agricultural products,
automotive spare parts. In the new period, the US administration is expected to
place more emphasis on production-oriented growth in global trade. In this
context, new collaborations and market opportunities may arise for Türkiye,
which has a dynamic production capacity.”
Explaining that the
TOBB Trade Center provides services with 12 different logistics and warehousing
centers across the US in addition to its warehousing operations in Chicago,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We aim to extend our services to other states such as Los
Angeles, New York, Miami, Houston in order to spread the experience and
successes achieved in Chicago to the entire US continent.”
Stating that the trade
center in the USA has now turned into a Turkish export ecosystem,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said: “This ecosystem has become the dynamo of our exports with
its internal and external strategic collaborations, experience transfers and
the strong Turkish brand image it creates. Our TOBB Trade Center is waiting for
new success stories to be written by our exporter companies with the supports
and services that Turkish companies can benefit from whether they have an
existing operation in the US or no operation at all.”
Referring to the
reconstruction of Syria, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Turkish companies can take part
in the reconstruction of this place. Turkish business people are doing
successful work in the most dangerous geographies of the world. For example
Afghanistan and Iraq. There is no one braver than us in this region.”
