5 Honorary Consuls Sit on EİB Board of Directors

Honorary consuls play an important role in developing economic, commercial, social and cultural relations between Turkey and other countries. The Aegean Exporters Associations (EİB) have 5 honorary consuls on their Boards of Directors. Aegean Exporters Associations Coordinator Chairman Jak Eskinazi has been successfully managing Israel's Honorary Consulate in Izmir for years, while Ömer Celal Umur, Chairman of the Aegean Tobacco Exporters Association Board of Directors, serves as Honorary Consul of Thailand in Izmir. Eli Alharal, Board Member of the Aegean Dried Fruit and Products Exporters Association, has been serving as Honorary Consul of Colombia in Izmir since 2012, contributing to the strengthening of ties between the two countries. In 2021, Sinan Kızıltan became Honorary Consul of Italy in Muğla and Vice Chairman of the Aegean Aquatic Products and Livestock Products Exporters Association Board of Directors. Martin Sanford, Board Member of the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association, successfully manages the Honorary Consulate of South American country Chile in Izmir. Jak Eskinazi, Coordinator Chairman of the Aegean Exporters Associations and Honorary Consul of Israel in Izmir, noted that honorary consuls work towards developing economic, commercial, social and cultural relations between the countries they represent and the Turkish Republic. Eskinazi also highlighted that individuals with exporter backgrounds put in more intensive effort during their honorary consulate duties to increase foreign trade between the two countries.

"We support efforts to attract foreign investors to Turkey"

Eskinazi reported that Turkey would close 2021 with export figures exceeding USD 220 billion, stating: "Turkey needs to increase the share of high-technology products in its exports. This path runs through value-added production and exports. Partnerships with foreign capital in this respect will accelerate our journey. As honorary consuls, we support efforts to attract foreign investors to Turkey. We are working to reflect Turkey's potential." Ömer Celal Umur, Chairman of the Aegean Tobacco Exporters Association and Honorary Consul of Thailand in Izmir, reported that Thailand will hold the APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) presidency in 2022. Umur said, "Far East and Southeast Asian economies are experiencing significant growth. Through the relations we will develop with Thailand, we aim to experience positive developments in our trade with all Asia-Pacific countries."

Importance placed on developing commercial relations

Sinan Kızıltan, Vice Chairman of the Aegean Aquatic Products and Livestock Products Exporters Association and Honorary Consul of Italy in Muğla, noted that Italy is one of Turkey's largest foreign trade partners, and stated that they place great importance on developing commercial relations between Italy and Turkey, and will continue their efforts to ensure that mutual tourism and business visits increase significantly, particularly if the pandemic situation eases in 2022. Eli Alharal, Board Member of the Aegean Dried Fruit and Products Exporters Association, who is entering the 10th year in Colombia's Honorary Consulate in Izmir, stated that trade volume between the two countries has increased since assuming the consulate position, mutual visas have been lifted, Turkish Airlines has started direct flights between Turkey and Colombia, and expressed satisfaction at contributing to these positive developments.