Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) President Şekib Avdagiç criticized EU officials regarding the problems the business world is experiencing with the Schengen visa and said, “We say to European diplomats that you do not give the opportunity to our businessmen who demand machinery to come to your countries. Then you complain about China because they buy Chinese machines. You will harm yourself.” “You give.” he said.
Avdagiç answered journalists’ questions about the visa problem at the SIAL Paris Food Fair, where İTO organized national participation with 346 companies.
Stating that starting from the President, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all other institutions are working most effectively to solve the visa problem, Avdagiç said, “This issue is an issue that can be handled and resolved by the states. As the ITO, we frequently share our views from the perspective of the business world with senior EU officials. Ümit “We hope that progress will be made on the visa issue within a reasonable period of time.” he said.
Stating that they saw a memorized approach in their meetings with senior EU officials, Avdagiç said:
“First, they say that visa applications have increased so much that we cannot keep up with them. Secondly, they claim that the number of people to whom they gave visas who did not return has increased significantly. We tell them that neither of these is true. You can give short notice to the applicants, such as 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months. “Because you give a temporary visa, that person has to apply again. There is no increase in the number of applications, there is duplication here.”
“WHEN YOU GIVE THAT PERSON A VISA FOR 1 WEEK OR 10 YEARS, WHAT CHANGES?”
Avdagiç emphasized that the EU’s justification of the refugee issue for the visa issue is a contradictory and technically irrelevant attitude and said, “You make the claim that he comes and stays as a refugee. What changes when you give that person a 1-week or 10-year visa? When you give it for 1 week,” Avdagiç said. “If he is going to stay in your country, he stays. So, the fact that you gave him a short visa does not have any technical effect on his decision to stay.” he said.
Stating that they shared the macro picture-related processes regarding visas, Avdagiç stated that the part that directly concerns the ITO is mainly the foreign trade side.
Avdagiç noted that the EU both complains about China’s commercial pressure and makes every excuse to give short-term visas or not to give visas at all to business people in Turkey, where it can solve the supply problem, and said, “We say to European diplomats that our businessmen demanding machinery are coming to your countries.” “You don’t give them a chance to come. Then you complain about China because they buy Chinese machines.” he said.
“THIS YEAR HAS NOT BEEN A PROBLEM FOR EXPORTERS WITH THE RECORD OF OUR IMPORTANT PRODUCTS”
İTO President Avdagiç pointed out that it is important for Turkey to participate in the SIAL Paris Food Fair, which will end today, with a record number of companies.
Stating that there is no problem in the yields of important products for exporters this year, Avdagiç said, “In some years, there may be a decrease in the crop yield due to weather conditions, frost or drought. Thank God, this year, for example, there is a serious yield increase in olives. Therefore, food “The fact that there is no problem in the production of important products that are subject to export helps our prices to be at a more reasonable level.” he said.
“IF TURKEY’S EXPORTS INCREASE BY 5-6 PERCENT, FOOD EXPORTS SHOULD INCREASE 15-16 PERCENT”
“It is clear that there is a serious potential in the food industry,” said Avdagiç, and made the following evaluations:
“There are targets announced in the Medium Term Plan (MTP) for 2025, 2026 and 2027. The food sector is a sector that will provide an increase of at least 8-10 points higher than Turkey’s export increase. It has such a potential. Turkey’s If exports increase by 5-6 percent, food exports should increase by 15-16 percent. Turkey’s export potential of food and food products is above conventional export figures. We need to work on the issues that hinder this and quickly remove them from the table. “I am optimistic. Food and agriculture is one of the promising sectors of Turkey. I have to say this with great pleasure that the image of the Turkish food industry is very good, especially in qualified markets, and our quality is very good.”
