ANKARA
Global exports from Kayseri, a large and industrialized province in Turkey's central Anatolia, increased by ten percent in the first eight months of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012.
The ten percent rise represents an increased value of $1.132 billion in January-August 2013 in comparison to the same period in 2012, according to data from the Turkish Exporters' Assembly and Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) gathered by AA correspondent.
Exports from Kayseri, known for its global businessmen and cuisine, hit $1.6 billion in 2012 with an increase of 8% compared to 2011.
Kayseri Metropolitan Mayor Mehmet Ozhaseki contends these are conservative figures and says that Kayseri's annual exports exceeded $2 billion.
Despite not having a port or being located on a border, Ozhaseki stressed, "exports from Kayseri were far above $2 billion considering the export goods, which have been delivered from custom regions along the seaboards."
Attending a Kayseri promotional event in Ankara on Tuesday, Ozhaseki said that more than 20 Kayseri-based industrialists are in the process of entering into partnerships with foreign investors, emphasising that the inland province is open to the global economy,
Ozhaseki also said that Kayseri exported goods to more than 150 countries, adding, "There are also some industrialists from Kayseri who are about to invest in foreign countries including European Union member countries."
Considering that industrialists from Kayseri are especially specialized in the sectors of meat production and furniture, Ozhaseki emphasized that they have gradually begun to specialize in sectors such as fibre-optic cables, cables for machinery, and home appliances.
During the March 29, 2009 local elections, Ozhaseki was elected as the Mayor of Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality for a fourth time after winning 60.5% of votes. Having been elected four times successively, Ozhaseki blazed a trail in the history of Kayseri.
Kayseri, renowned in Turkish history as a commercial town, is also famous with its politicians and businessmen, such as Turkish President Abdullah Gul and one of the most important Turkish businessmen Sakip Sabanci - called "Sakip Aga" - who died on April 10, 2004.
Kayseri is home to two state and two private universities: Erciyes University, Abdullah Gul University, Meliksah University and Nuh Naci Yazgan University.
Apart from Istanbul, Kayseri is the only other Turkish city represented in the Turkish super league with more than one prominent football teams, Kayserispor and Kayseri Erciyesspor.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
