Foreign businesses see Turkey as the most important country in addressing global supply chain issues, with its large production capacity and high manufacturing standards.
While several countries had disruptions due to problems related to the pandemic measures including lockdowns and travel bans, Turkey proved its strong industrial infrastructure that continued its activities even during the most difficult days of the pandemic.
With supply problems, especially stemming from China, countries, particularly those in Europe, aim to cooperate with closer suppliers instead of countries offering only low-cost production.
On the other hand, due to increasing transportation costs, Far Eastern countries have been losing their position in the global supply chains.
Foreign buyers see Turkey as the most important alternative supplier, which offers faster delivery and high quality with affordable prices and stability in orders.
At the International Brand and Manufacturer Meeting organized by the Turkish Houseware Association in Turkey's Mediterranean resort city Antalya last week, foreign buyers showed great interest in Turkish products.
According to the association figures, agreements worth $150 million were signed at the two-day event, which also created business networks that can generate $1 billion in business volume in 2022.
Shazada Ahmed, the CEO of the UK-based wholesaler Clearance King, said Turkey, strategically located at the center of the world, serves as a bridge between Asia and Europe.
Especially for UK-based businesses, Turkey is closer than other alternatives, including China, and the country has rich quality in production, Ahmed told Anadolu Agency.
Turkey can easily compete with China in supply chains and end Chinese dominance, he added.
He also noted that the event was very attractive and business people from all around the world reached agreements with Turkish suppliers.
Thrushar Kheita, the founder of Kenya's major supplier Kheita Drapers Group, said even China offers cheaper prices, several countries will choose Turkish products thanks to their high quality.
People cannot compare Turkish products with Chinese goods, "Chinese prices are cheap, but you also know that the quality is cheap."
On increasing transportation fees, he said rising transportation prices is a big opportunity for Turkey.
"Turkey is very close and numerous Turkish companies are already active in Africa, several Africa business people look for strategic partnership deals with Turkish enterprises," he underlined.
The Turkish manufacturers should come to Kenya and Africa for meeting other businesses, Africa is the growing continent, Brazil, Russia, China are already active in the continent, he said.
He also said that there is a big opportunity for Turkey but the country has a language, adding that only a few people can speak English fluently.
Aibek Adambekov, the commercial director of Kazakhstan's Cash & Carry company Magnum's Uzbekistan branch, said Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan mostly import goods from China and Russia but there is currently a quality issue.
"Turkish manufacturers have very good quality, and hopefully, the matter of logistics will be fixed, and we will be able to bring Turkish products into our market because our people have similar approaches in their food preferences," he stressed.
He added: "Even if they demand higher costs, we want to choose quality, Turkish products have this quality."
Adambekov also said he hopes that one day Turkey will become one of the biggest suppliers of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan markets.
Ömer Albayrak, the owner of the German supplier Alim Home, said the price gap between China and Turkey is closing, while German companies are turning to Turkey and aiming to make agreements with Turkish companies.
Turkey is also valuable for big chains' investments thanks to its young population, and if the country provides currency stability it will attract more investments, Albayrak stressed.
Rauf Rafiyev, an Azerbaijani wholesaler, noted: "Our purchases from China are decreasing due to logistics prices, this is an advantage for Turkey."
Many Azerbaijani companies buy from Turkey, even if the prices are the same as the alternatives, everyone prefers Turkey, he said.
Purchasing delegations come from all over the world to Turkey, from the Equator to Argentina, from the US to European countries, he underlined and added: "With the increase in the number of production companies and the development of the investment ecosystem, foreign investors will also turn to Turkey.
