Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Işınsu Kestelli, TOBB Board Member responsible for the Council, stated that the sector faced problems in the supply chain and logistics with the Covid-19 pandemic, followed by the Russia-Ukraine war, and stated that it is of great importance to increase R&D opportunities for the development of the sector, to work towards the EU harmonization process, and to increase support for financing and qualified labor force.

Necdet Buzbaş, Council President, pointed out that although the sector maintained its net exporter position in January 2023, imports and exports were close to each other and drew attention to the slowdown in foreign trade compared to last year. Mr. Buzbaş also emphasized the importance of increasing product added value and food safety, improving product packaging, creating new designs and planning activities in the food sector.

At the meeting where the general evaluation of the sector was made, the increase in agricultural input inflation continued, the ongoing export restriction on butter damaged the sector, facilitating access to the necessary credit to help farmers during the harvest period and the increase in sugar prices were discussed.

In the meeting, Sümeyye Elif Subaşı, Head of the Department of Technology Trainings of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, made an informative presentation about the "Sector on Campus" program.

In the presentation, efforts to contribute to the mutual development of companies and universities by developing an education model intertwined with the business world were mentioned and opinions and suggestions were evaluated.