Turkish HVAC&R Exporters Association (ISIB) has paid a trade visit to Chile and Argentina with a sectoral delegation. The visit was part of ISIB’s overarching objective to enter into distant markets with a view to increase the export volume of the sector and show the sector’s potential.
Within the framework of the Trade Delegation Programme, 15 ISIB member companies met HVAC&R companies from Chile and Argentine on 26-31 August. ISIB members returned home with a promising outlook for the future following a total of 210 business meetings in Chile and Argentina, 114 and 96 meetings respectively. Representatives from Alfa Kazan Mak. A.Ş, Bahçıvan Elektrik Motor Ltd. Şti., Cenk Endüstri Tesisleri İml. ve Taah. A.Ş, Frigoblok Soğutma Sistemleri A.Ş, Friterm Termik Cihazlar A.Ş, Gemak Genel Soğutma Mak. A.Ş, Gökçeler İç ve Dış Ticari Soğutma Sistemleri A.Ş, Güven Soğutma Üni. San. ve Tic. A.Ş., MGT Filtre A.Ş, Refkar Soğutma ve Isı Trans. Ltd. Şti, Sarbuz Isı Transfer Cihazları A.Ş, Şantes Klima Havalandırma Soğutma Ltd. Şti, Türk Demirdöküm Fabrikaları A.Ş, Ulpatek Filtre Ticaret A.Ş and Üntes Isıtma Klima Soğutma A.Ş had one-to-one meetings with the leading HVAC&R companies of the region, exchanging opinions on production, marketing and similar topics.
Ambassadors and Trade Counsellors who supported ISIB delegation in both Chile and Argentina briefed the participants about the socio-economic conditions, commercial life, advantages, opportunities and expectations in the region.
Murat Bakanay, Board Member of Turkish HVAC&R Exporters Association (ISIB), stated that South American market is full of opportunities which the Turkish HVAC&R sector intends to harness. Referring to the region as a potentially new market fort he HVC&R sector, Mr. Bakanay briefly informed the participants about the export figures of July 2017 and July 2018 which Show that Chile, Colombia and Argentina are among the top 10 countries with the highest increase in export figures. Mr. Bakanay said that: “We have been assured one again by our colleagues and ambassadors that we are on the right track. I have also spoken to the representatives in our delegation who said the B2B meetings were productive and promising and the organization was a great success in general.
“There is hardly any production of HVAC&R products in Chile, and the economy is mostly dependant on imports. Customs duties are also low in Chile. In Argentina, on the other hand, HVAC&R products are produced but the industrial structure is old and limited. In recent years, the government has been working on decreasing the customs tariffs. We intend to utilize all these opportunities. We can say that this can be a very suitable market for Turkish industrialists producing semi products as the production of semi products is very costly in Chile and Argentina. We are hoping for a positive feedback from both Chile and Argentina” said Mr. Bakanay.
Mr. Bakanay also stated that they are planning another visit to the region in 2019, and that this time the visit will also cover Colombia and Peru. Mr. Bakanay said that ISIB’s decision to enter into distant markets was to the point and that they are keen on replicating the sector’s success and competitiveness in the distant markets.
Mr. Bakanay also said that they firmly believe that Turkey will get over the current economic problems soon enough, and that ISIB will continue to pursue its targets, which include an objective to reach an export volume of 5 billion dollars by the end of 2018.
