Focus on food, health and digitalisation in coming period for Turkey

The Turkish trade minister has said on Friday that in the coming period, Turkey will prioritise making investments into the food, health and digitalisation industries.

The importance of digitalisation

Trade Minister, Ruhsar Pekcan, was part of a virtual online meeting held with the Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), where she explained that the fight against the coronavirus pandemic around the world has brought the importance of digitalisation in the business world to the forefront once again.

Pekcan said: “Investments in the field of digitalisation and technology are at least as important as food for both Turkey and the world.” She also went on to add that the “investments we will be making in food, health and digitalisation will be the priority in the coming period.”

Virtual trading initiated in Turkey

The ministry has also initiated virtual trading and marketing platforms including virtual trade delegations, fairs and e-marketplaces, according to Pekcan, amid the current coronavirus pandemic.

Explaining the developments further she said: “We will start with the chemical industry, then we will carry out our trade delegations with the U.S., Mexico, Poland in the non-ferrous metals, household goods and plastics sectors.”

Complete solidarity in Turkey

Pekcan stressed that the first virtual fair would be implemented in the agricultural sector in Turkey. The minister said that the “complete solidarity” of the state and nation would continue, as she underlined the coordination that was taking place between the Turkish ministries, public institutions and organisations in the country.

This “complete solidarity” was praised by the trade minister, with particular praise given to the prominent efforts in the healthcare and trade industries, as well as the efforts to help the economy.

Using transportation more effectively

“Railway transportation shined in trade during this period. From now on we must use the railway more effectively,” Pekcan said, as she pointed out the contactless measures that the ministry had implemented in an attempt to mitigate the pandemic’s impact and make it easier than ever to use railways in Turkey.

This comes after Turkey closed its land and air borders to neighbouring countries including Georgia, Iran, and Iraq in March. After this, a number of no-contact foreign trade practices were put in place to keep the possibility of trading between the countries alive.