The fairs held in Turkey, which has risen to the position of the supply base of the West, are flooded with foreigners. Ceyda Erem, who said that they received intense participation even from America and Africa, said, “Our fairs are getting more and more exciting”.
While Turkey’s exports, which have risen to the position of the West’s supply base with its performance during the pandemic, continue to break records, foreign purchasing groups that have turned their route from the Far East to Turkey flock to the fairs held in our country.
Saying that they were stunned by the high foreign interest in the shoe and furniture fair they organized this year, CNR Holding Chairman of the Board Ceyda Erem said, “Currently, our fairs are getting more and more exciting. Foreigners flock to the fairs. This year, for the first time, serious buyers came from America, there are even intense participants from Africa.”
WE HAVE BECOME A SUPPLY BASE
Stating that they were the company that held the most fairs in Europe during the pandemic period, Ceyda Erem said, “We held 20 fairs in 2020 and two this year. This year, all fairs were postponed to the second half due to restrictions. After that, we have 15-20 fairs. There will be serious congestion.
Because our companies want to showcase their products. There is serious participation from abroad, both as buyers and sellers.” Expressing that there is great interest from foreigners in the fairs to be held from now on, Erem said: “There is a home textile fair in the coming weeks. There is a great interest in it from America, too. The food fair, on the other hand, was enthusiastic, with buyers coming from all over the world.
Because they supply from us, which they cannot do from China. The restrictions on exports from the Far East and China, especially due to the pandemic, have been very beneficial for our companies. Turkey became a supply base. This is now certain. The government’s support to companies played a major role in this interest. Our President managed the process very well with his vision and brought our country forward. European companies turned to Turkey when freight costs increased so much in the world. We must seize this opportunity very well. We got the wind behind us.”
50% INCREASE IN FOREIGNERS
Ceyda Erem, who stated that very good results were achieved in the furniture fair held in August, said, “Everyone was hopeless due to the holiday month and the effect of the pandemic. However, contrary to expectations, it attracted a lot of attention.” Informing that they hosted a serious participant from many countries, Erem said: “Countries such as America, Israel, Germany and Iraq showed serious participation to buy goods.
The highest attendance was from Israel. Although we did not go too far on Africa in terms of promotion, they made high participation and high purchases. The Italians, on the other hand, participated in our shoe fair with the support of the state and opened a booth. The rate of those who opened stands and sold their goods in our country increased by 50% this year. That’s a really significant increase.”
THERE IS NO OBSTACLES IN OUR WAY
Ceyda Erem, who evaluated the statement that Istanbul World Trade Center (IDTM) took back 6 of the 8 exhibition halls from the tenant company CNR with a court decision, and that the evacuation process of the last 2 exhibition halls continues, said: “First of all, the judicial process regarding the cases continues.
We will continue to organize the fairs to the extent that we can rent them from outside. There is nothing that prevents us from holding a fair.” Stating that private sector-state partnership lies behind the success of international fairs, Erem added that the implementation of the same method in our country will make a great contribution to the country’s economy.
INVITATIONS FROM ABROAD
Stating that their employment increased to 650 due to the intense interest shown in the fairs, Erem said, “Since the fair organization has slowed down a lot due to the pandemic all over the world, we receive serious invitations from abroad. They say, ‘Come, organize a fair here’. We receive serious invitations, especially from European countries and the Middle East. We think about it of course.”
JOINT PROJECT WITH THE BRITISH
Erem said that they had a technological cooperation with the British on a project, and that the project would be operational as of November 1st. Erem said:
“We can think of it as a unicorn that will come out of Turkey. Thanks to the system we have established, a person who wants to buy any product will enter the system and see all the manufacturers together. They will see the product information in detail. In a sense, it will be a virtual fair.”
Source: Sabah / Translated by Irem Yildiz