Opening of the Fair and the Role of the TRNC
The Interfresh Eurasia Fair held in Izmir brought together representatives from over 80 countries and more than 500 professional buyers. In this international event, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) participated as a partner country, while Denizli was represented as a partner city. The fair encompasses a wide range of areas including fruits, vegetables, food, agricultural technologies, packaging, storage, and logistics.
Former President Ersin Tatar, who gave the opening speech, emphasized the importance of the TRNC’s production power and the need to deliver its products to the global market. In this context, he noted that Turkey’s provision of water to the TRNC has significantly contributed to agricultural production.
Statistics from the Ministry of Trade
Mehmet Ali Kılıçkaya, the General Director of Exports at the Ministry of Trade, reported that despite the challenges of global trade and geopolitical tensions, Turkey’s export figures continue to rise. He announced that last year, agricultural product exports reached $32.6 billion, and in the first eight months of 2026, this figure increased by 4.8% to $21.7 billion.
The export of fresh fruits and vegetables amounted to $2.3 billion, while exports of processed fruit and vegetable products reached $1.6 billion, indicating that the total exports from these two sectors have risen to about $4 billion. Kılıçkaya noted that a budget of 45 billion lira has been allocated for export supports in the 2026 budget and that these supports will continue.
Muhammet Öztürk, the Coordinator President of the Aegean Exporters’ Associations, added that in the last year, the total export of fresh fruits and vegetables, processed fruit and vegetable products, and dried fruit sectors across Turkey reached $8.5 billion. It was noted that $2.3 billion of this export was made from the Aegean region.
At the opening of the fair, awards were also presented to prominent women cooperatives in the sector. During the ceremony, protocol members cut the ribbon to inaugurate the fair and visited participant booths. The Interfresh Eurasia Fair, which has been held since 2018, will conclude on September 10.
Source: www.diyaloggazetesi.com
