Figures released by the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters Union (GAİB) on Thursday showed that southeastern provinces exported goods worth $226.9 million to Turkey’s neighbors in January and February of this year, a 15 percent decline compared to the same months of last year. Southeastern provinces enjoyed historic high exports to neighboring countries last year, particularly Iraq and Syria, despite a global credit crunch. Exports from the region amounted to $266.9 million in the first two months of 2009.
Evaluating the figures in Gaziantep on Thursday, GAİB President Abdulkadir Çıkmaz said exporters believe that exports in the months to come will compensate for the decline. He said the slowdown in business with neighboring countries is only temporary and they have faith things will get back on track soon.
According to the GAİB report, Iran is poised to become the new favorite market for southeastern exporters. Exports from the region to this country surged by a robust 135 percent in the first two months of this year over the same period of 2009. Iran imported $17.28 million worth of products from southeastern Anatolian provinces in January and February combined. This number was $7.34 million in the same period last year.
