By Addis Getachew
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) – The second edition of Djibouti International Trade Fair was launched by the country's President Ismail Omar Guelleh on Monday.
Four Turkish businesses participated in the tiny Horn of Africa country's 10-day trade fair, which attracted 310 exhibitors from around the globe.
“Exhibitors from five continents have participated in this second Djibouti International Trade Fair,” President of the Djibouti Chamber of Commerce Youssouf Moussa Dawaleh told reporters.
Last year, the number of exhibitors had stood at 200 and there has been a substantial increase, according to Dawaleh, emphasizing the success of the first edition.
Dawaleh said that Turkey has been one of the main players of commercial activities in not only Djibouti, but in the region as a whole.
However, the number of exhibitors this time is low, while Turkish businesspeople participating in the trade fair blame it on the lack of promotional work at home.
Marland, a Turkish construction firm engaged in selling a line of products including carpets using high technology for manufacturing, took part in the fair for the second time.
Tolga Capraz, general manager of the company and head of Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), told Anadolu Agency:
“There should have been a promotional work before the event to attract many Turkish companies.
Capraz said Turkey would make use of a free trade zone in Djibouti “soon “.
According to Sadi Altinok, outgoing Turkish ambassador to Djibouti, land has already been allocated for the trade zone, which Turkey would soon develop.
Mohammed Amin Gok, vice chairman of sunflower oil company which produces and exports from Turkey's southern Gaziantep province, told Anadolu Agency that his company has established a good business in East Africa including Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Uganda, among others.
During the 10-day duration of the exhibition, Gok said his company “would be establishing business links and sell our brand. ”
“We are here for business,” he added.
