Büyükekşi, speaking to the Anatolia news agency yesterday, stated that in 2001 there were only four provinces -- İstanbul, Ankara, Bursa and İzmir -- with exports totaling more than $1 billion, and of them, İstanbul accounted for the largest share of the country’s total trade. Our aim is to increase exports all throughout Anatolia, he stated, adding, “İstanbul’s share in overall exports decreased from 65 percent in 2001 to 48 percent last year.” 2009, however, saw eight more provinces increase their export levels to above $1 billion, Büyükekşi said, which is a sign that more Anatolian cities are conducting their share of exports.
In line with the 2023 export strategy, which foresees the country’s overall exports reaching $500 billion by 2023, eight more provinces are expected to see more than $1 billion in exports this year, the TİM head stated. Furthermore, he said, the target is to increase the export levels of provinces whose total exports are around $100 to 200 million to above $500 million. “To achieve this end, we are organizing ‘common mind’ meetings in these cities together with former Minister Tınaz Titiz and carrying out studies to find out how the industry and exports of these places can be boosted. So far we have held these meetings in Mardin, Van, Ordu, Samsun and Kahramanmaraş. Reports are currently being prepared. The 2023 policy [for exports] will be ready by the end of March.” The TİM Academy will also provide these cities with training according to their needs, he said.
In regard to their target of conducting $111 billion in exports this year, Büyükekşi said the recovery has already started. “January saw a 12.5 percent rise in exports over the same month of the previous year, and we expect a 20 to 30 percent increase in February,” he noted.
Southeastern Anatolia Exporters Union (GAİB) President Abdulkadir Çıkmaz also stated that Anatolia’s exports are increasing year after year. “Thanks to a strategy by the foreign trade undersecretariat to ensure that the entire country exports goods, all 81 provinces export goods now,” he said.
