Turkish delight for Obama and Putin

ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency

Mete says Turkey should be given positive discrimination in Russian tenders. Hürriyet photo

Turkish companies are waiting support from customs in bringing traditional Turkish treats into Russia in order to “offer Turkish delight to Obama and Putin,” said Zekeriya Mete, the head of an exporters’ union. Speaking on the sidelines of the World Food Moscow Fair, Mete said Turkey should demand “positive discrimination” from Russia in the food sector because of the fuel and nuclear ties between the two countries.

According to an announcement made by the exporters’ union, there were close to 40 different Turkish firms at the World Food Moscow Fair, which is one of the most important fairs in the industry with more than 1,000 participants. The fair gave Turkish companies the opportunity to form trade ties with a myriad of global food companies.

Fair hosts 67 countries

Last year, the global food industry accounted for $1.1 billion of total global exports and in the first seven months of this year, it registered an 8 percent global increase. Turkey, which exported $550 million worth of food exports in this same period, is targeted to increase its exports and therefore attended the World Food Moscow Fair with this goal in mind.

“The fair which hosted firms from 67 countries, gave Turkish companies the chance to form trade ties not only with the Russian market, but also with international firms. With the increase in relations between Ankara and Moscow, the turnover in trade will increase,” Mete said.

“We export to 200 countries around the world and we will make sure that Turkey’s name is heard everywhere. We have decided that in addition to feeding Turkish delight to President Obama, we will also feed it to President Putin. We want support from customs so we can feed Turkish delight to Obama and Putin,” said Mete.