Turkish Export Products Shine in the Venezuelan Market

The Turkish Export Products Fair was held in the capital city of Caracas, Venezuela, with the participation of various companies.

With the support of the Ministry of Trade and under the coordination of the Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TIM), the Venezuela Turkish Export Products Fair took place in the capital city of Caracas from September 20th to 24th, with the participation of 32 companies.

The opening ceremony of the fair, organized by the Mediterranean Exporters' Associations (AKIB), was attended by Delcy Rodriguez, Vice President of Venezuela, Wilmar Castro Soteldo, Minister of Productive Agriculture and Lands of Venezuela, Dheliz Alvarez, Minister of Trade, Carlos Leal Telleria, Minister of Food, and Aydan Karamanoğlu, the Turkish Ambassador in Caracas, as well as the heads of Exporters' Unions.

Marcos Meléndez, Administrator of the La Guaira Special Economic Zone, one of the important centers of the Venezuelan economy, visited the fair and held discussions with Turkish companies on investment opportunities. Additionally, a memorandum of understanding for evaluating investment opportunities between Turkish companies and the La Guaira Governorship was signed.

KILIÇER: WE HAVE ORGANIZED THE FIRST TURKISH EXPORT PRODUCTS FAIR IN THE AMERICAS

R. Onur Kılıçer, Coordinator Chairman of AKIB and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Mediterranean Furniture, Paper, and Forest Products Exporters' Association (AKAMIB), stated that the event, which included all sectors and held the distinction of being the first Turkish export products fair in the Americas, was very productive.

Kılıçer stated, "The products that exporters affiliated with AKIB sell most to Venezuela are pasta, canned meat and offal, sweet biscuits and wafers, mineral oils, soap, and washing preparations. Our Union, which achieved exports of 26.5 million dollars in 2022, reached an export value of 25.6 million dollars in the period of January-August 2023. I believe that with the synergy created by the Venezuela Turkish Export Products Fair, we will achieve much more successful results”.

ÇAĞAN: OUR COOPERATION IS GROWING ON SOLID FOUNDATIONS

Saadettin Çağan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Mediterranean Chemicals and Chemical Products Exporters' Association (AKMIB), emphasized in his evaluation that the Venezuela Turkish Export Products Fair both strengthened existing commercial ties and provided an opportunity to lay the groundwork for new collaborations.

YAMANYILMAZ: MADURO HAD OPENED DOORS WIDE TO TURKISH EXPORTERS FIVE YEARS AGO

Ali Can Yamanyılmaz, Vice President of the Mediterranean Aquatic Products and Animal Products Exporters' Association (ASHIB), reminded that Venezuela committed to eliminating customs duties within a maximum of 7 years with the 'Trade Development Agreement' it signed with Turkey. Yamanyılmaz emphasized that Venezuela offers significant opportunities in high-potential agricultural and food products, including poultry, milk powder, legumes, nuts and dried fruits, flour, vegetable oils, olives, pasta, confectionery, flour, biscuits, chocolates, pasta, canned goods, and tomato pastes.

Yamanyılmaz, recalling that Venezuelan President Nikolas Maduro welcomed the Turkish delegation five years ago during the sectoral trade delegation trip they organized in 2019, stated:

"Venezuelan President Mr. Nikolas Maduro, a friend of Turkey and a fan of Turkish television series, said in his reception five years ago, 'The doors are open for you here. You will meet all the needs of our country primarily from Turkey.' In the meantime, trade between Turkey and Venezuela has strengthened even more. We see Latin America as an alternative to the Middle East market. Demand is high for every product, and there are no problems with ports and warehouses. Since Venezuela is included in the customs union of the Americas, we believe that we will also be effective in markets in this region".

MADURO HOSTED THE TURKISH DELEGATION IN A LIVE BROADCAST, OFFERING FULL SUPPORT

Furthermore, Venezuelan President Nikolas Maduro hosted the delegation led by Aydan Karamanoğlu, the Turkish Ambassador in Caracas, and Ali Can Yamanyılmaz, Vice President of ASHIB, in a live broadcast program. Maduro expressed his satisfaction with the organization of the first Turkish Export Products Fair in his country and declared that Turkey stood by the Venezuelan nation in its most challenging times, and pledged to continue providing all kinds of support for the development of bilateral trade relations.