The President of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO), Sekib Avdagic, criticized EU officials on the problems the business world faces with Schengen visas, stating, “We tell European diplomats that you are not allowing our country’s businesspeople, who request machinery, to enter your countries. Then you complain about them buying machines from China. You are harming yourselves.”

During the SIAL Paris Food Fair where the ITO organized national participation with 346 companies, President Sekib Avdagic responded to questions from journalists regarding visa issues. Avdagic highlighted that from the President to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, all institutions are working effectively to solve visa problems, stating, “This issue can be managed and resolved at the state level. As the ITO, we frequently share our views on the matter with high-ranking EU officials from a business perspective. We hope that progress will be made on the visa issue in a reasonable timeframe.” Avdagic reported seeing a familiar approach during their meetings with senior EU officials, stating, “First, they say visa applications are increasing rapidly, and they can’t keep up. Secondly, they claim that the number of individuals granted visas who do not return is significantly increasing. We express to them that both are untrue. You are forcing applicants to reapply due to granting short-term visas like for 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. There is no increase in the number of applications; there is duplication here.”

“What changes when you give a person a 1-week visa versus a 10-year visa?” Avdagic emphasized the contradictory and technically unfounded nature of the EU using the refugee issue as an excuse for visa problems, stating, “You claim they arrive and stay as refugees. What changes when you give that person a 1-week or a 10-year visa? If you give a 1-week visa and they intend to stay in your country, they will stay. In other words, giving a short visa does not change their decision to stay. There is no technical justification for it on our end.” Avdagic shared the processes related to the macro picture on visa matters but noted that the part directly relevant to the ITO mainly concerns foreign trade. Avdagich pointed out that the EU invents all kinds of excuses to grant short-term visas or deny visas entirely to Turkish businessmen who can solve China’s trade pressure and supply problems, saying, “We tell European diplomats that you are not allowing our country’s businesspeople, who request machinery, to enter your countries. Then you complain about them buying machines from China. You are harming yourselves.”

“For exporters, no issues have arisen with the yields of our important products this year,” Avdagic emphasized the significance of Turkey’s record number of companies participating in the SIAL Paris Food Fair, stating, “Some years, due to weather conditions, frost, or drought, crop yields can decrease. Thankfully, this year, for instance, there is a significant increase in olive yields. Therefore, not facing any issues in the production of critical products for food exports also contributes to our prices being more reasonable.” “If Turkey’s exports are increasing by 5-6%, food exports should increase by 15-16%,”Avdagic emphasized the significant potential in the food sector, stating, “There are targets announced in the Medium-Term Plan 2025, 2026, and 2027. The food sector will generate an increase in exports at least 8-10 points higher than Turkey’s export growth. It has that potential. If Turkey’s exports are increasing by 5-6%, food exports should increase by 15-16%. Turkey’s potential for exporting food and food products exceeds conventional export figures. We need to work on areas that will increase this. We need to identify and promptly eliminate obstacles. I am optimistic about that. Food and agriculture are open sectors for Turkey. I must also add that it brings me great pleasure to say that the image of the Turkish food industry, especially in quality markets, is excellent, our quality is excellent.”