‘Virtual fairs’ from the Ministry of Trade with domestic and national software contribution
Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan said that the virtual fairs, replacing the physical fairs that could not be organized due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will start with the shoe and leathercraft fair ‘Shoedexpo’ on June 1-3 and will be followed by ‘Agrivirtual-Virtual Agricultural Machinery Fair’ on June 22-26, to be hold the with the contribution of domestic and national software. The Ministry of Commerce moves the fairs postponed or canceled during the pandemic to the virtual environment. Underlining that digital marketing methods and virtual trading platforms have become more important during the Covid-19 process, Minister Pekcan noted that they started their virtual fair works after the virtual trade delegation organizations, which they continued to successfully carry out in coordination with exporters’ associations, without being excluded from these developments.
Pekcan, emphasizing that the promotion of participating companies and their products with virtual fairs and all activities aimed at developing trade such as panels through online seminars and bilateral meetings between these companies and buyers will be carried to the digital platform on a 24/7 basis. We start with the leathercraft fair ‘Shoedexpo’. In order to introduce virtual trade fairs, one of the digital marketing methods, to our companies and to ensure that our companies take place on these platforms before their global competitors, we will bring together 250 professional buyers with our 30 participating companies at this fair. Our companies will bring their collections prepared for the autumn-winter season to the world on the digital platform and will conduct online bilateral business meetings with global buyers on the web.”
Exporters to meet more than 300 global buyers at the virtual fair
Minister Pekcan announced that the ‘Agrivirtual – Virtual Agricultural Machinery Fair’ will be organized on June 22-26 in cooperation with the Ministry, with the organization of the Central Anatolian Exporters’ Associations and the cooperation of Selçuk University. Pekcan said that: “In this fair, which is prepared with the contribution of domestic and national software, visitors will be able to visit the exhibition area in 3D and carry out instant messaging and video calls with the visitors of the companies. In addition, we will bring together over 100 agricultural machinery exporters with more than 300 global buyers at the fair where translation services will be provided in 4 languages. The Ministry of Trade initiated work to include virtual trade delegations and virtual fairs in the export oriented government subsidies. In the days of social isolation due to the pandemic, we will overcome the obstacles in developing trade with digital platforms in cooperation with our companies. Our Ministry will continue its pioneering role in such works at full speed and remove the obstacles out of the way for our exporters.”
First ‘Virtual Trade Delegation’ organized with Uzbekistan
On the other hand, general trade delegation programs, which cannot be realized due to travel restrictions and measures due to Covid-19 pandemic, are implemented with the instruction of Minister Pekcan as ‘virtual trade delegations’ with the organization of the ministry. Accordingly, the first virtual trade delegation was held on 13 -15 May for Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan General Trade Delegation opening took place with the participation of ministry officials, Turkey Exporters Assembly (TIM) and Tashkent Trade Counsel, a video conference was held for the firms and companies conducted bilateral talks in a virtual environment. 16 Turkish and 44 Uzbek companies participated in the Uzbekistan Virtual Trade Delegation program.
