TRNC becomes partner country of Interfresh Eurasia exhibition in Izmir

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus became a partner country of the international Interfresh Eurasia exhibition, which opened in Izmir on 8 September, with representatives from more than 80 countries and over 500 professional buyers taking part.

The exhibition is dedicated to fruits and vegetables, food products, food technologies, packaging, agrotechnologies, storage and logistics. Denizli was granted city-partner status, and the exhibition will run until 10 September.

Ersin Tatar, the republic’s fifth president, represented the TRNC at the opening. He thanked those helping bring TRNC products to global markets and recalled that the republic trades under an embargo and with limited opportunities to access external markets.

Tatar also spoke about the water pipeline from Anamur in Turkey, through which 75 million cubic metres of water reaches Northern Cyprus every year. According to him, the project has raised groundwater levels and prevented soil salinisation, while water from the Geçitköy reservoir is supplied to the citrus orchards of Güzelyurt to support new planting and increase yields.

According to Turkey’s Ministry of Trade’s Export Directorate, the country’s agricultural exports totalled $32.6 billion last year and $21.7 billion in the first eight months of this year, 4.8% more than a year earlier. Fresh vegetables and fruits accounted for $2.3 billion, while processed fruit and vegetable products brought in $1.6 billion. The 2026 budget includes TRY 45 billion in support for exports.